Why not post outdoor Community Information Boards at public buildings and sites?

I've written a lot about the ability to disseminate community information and community media in the context of a shrinking locally-focused media, and the rise (and atomization of communication) of social media and the false belief that online communications adequately substitutes for other media, especially print.

-- "Voting vs. civic participation | elections vs. governance"
-- "Community cleanups (and other activities) as community building and civic engagement activities"

In my Silver Spring series, one of the points is a proposed digital neighborhood communications system (see item 10, PL #5: Creating a Silver Spring "Sustainable Mobility District" | Part 3: Program items 10-18").  While I still think the creation of such a system should be pursued, at the same time, more simple methods do exist.

Recommendation: why not have outdoor community bulletin boards posted at public buildings and assets including schools, libraries, parks, recreation centers, transit stations, kiosks in commercial districts, etc.?

They exist here and there but not in a systematic way.  And Metrorail specifically does not allow for the posting of localized community information.

Here are some examples, mostly from the area.

I didn't include indoor community boards.  As a rule DC's libraries and recreation centers have community bulletin boards although they vary in quality.

In the for profit realm, coffee shops and some grocery stores have community bulletin boards.

They could be linked into one system.


Community Notice Board, Merseytravel, Queens Square Bus Station, Liverpool. Yes, transit authorities can do this.


Information board, Sligo Creek Trail, Montgomery County, Maryland.


Community bulletin board behind Hampshire Langley Shopping Center on Kirklynn Avenue, Takoma Park (Takoma Langley Crossroads). It might be that the big board is run by the shopping center. The smaller box to the right is managed by the community association.


Bulletin board at Mount Pleasant Plaza, DC. This is a rare example of a posted outdoor community information board at a DC Government controlled site.


Bulletin board at the Rhode Island Avenue pedestrian bridge trailhead, Metropolitan Branch Trail. I believe this was put up by the DC Department of Transportation. Interestingly, a community Little Free Library has been placed to the right of this sign.


Community kiosk, Adams Morgan neighborhood, northeast corner of 18th Street and Columbia Road NW intersection. All commercial districts should be provided with information kiosks, identification signage, and other promotional facilities. This is one of only two examples of a kiosk in the public space that I am familiar with.


This is the other... Community kiosk in the Palisades neighborhood of DC, MacArthur Road NW. But I wonder if it is on private space.


Bulletin board, Park, 11th and Monroe NW. I can't find a photo, but there is a community information board at every park site in Takoma Park, Maryland.