SURPRISE, AZ — How well do you know your neighbors and the community around you?
The best way to bring people out is to throw a party and there is one West Valley city that wants to pay for the cost of the celebration.
"We get a lot of requests where we'll get phone calls...say, 'I just moved to down and I want to meet my neighbors,'" said Human Service and Community Vitality Manager Joe Gladieus.
The city of Surprise offers what they call the Block Party Trailer that you can rent for free.
"It's a party on wheels," Gladieus said. "We take it out...and you guys provide the party. We just provide the catalyst to start it."
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When you request the trailer, it comes with a sound system, a DJ, games and more.
Plus, if you save your receipts, the city will reimburse you for food, drinks, even paper plates up to $75.
The city will also pay you back, up to $125, for renting a bounce house.
"You can request our departments to show up," Gladieus explained. "So, if we have police or fire or any of our water resources or anything like that. They can come out on site and answer questions and interact with the public as well."
Surprise has been offering this for more than a decade. But, city officials said there are too many people who have not used their invitation to the free program.
"And the typical statement is, 'I wish I would have known about this sooner'," Gladieus said.
If you want to rent the trailer, you will have to fill out an application. The city requests about two weeks notice from your party to get it on the schedule.
Click here if you would like to fill out an application. You can also call Neighborhood Services at 623-222-1550 or you can pick up an application at the Surprise City Hall at 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza.
"Anytime you get your neighbors out and involved and knowing each other, it's a safer place to be," Gladieus said.
