See something interesting while out and about in your 'hood? Snap it and share it on Neighborhood Square. View Full Caption Shutterstock

This week, we're launching a new social network just for Chicagoans called Neighborhood Square. Here's a little bit on the what, how and why behind this new service.

What's Neighborhood Square?

Glad you asked! Neighborhood Square is our new social network for neighborhoods — it’s a service provided by DNAinfo and powered by the people who use it. Unlike DNAinfo Chicago, Neighborhood Square will host posts, links, photos and comments from anyone and everyone in your community — from the businesses who serve it, the journalists who cover it, and your neighbors who are out exploring it every day.

How do we use Neighborhood Square?

The short answer is — however you want! We’re new and want you to help us set the tone for your neighborhood. Once you create an account, you can follow any and every neighborhood that interests you. Find out about new lunch spots where you work, ask a neighbor to recommend a plumber, or vent about the parking restrictions where you live. Anything you would post to a real-life community bulletin board is welcome on Neighborhood Square.

Will I see news from places other than DNAinfo?

Again, that’s up to you. Yes, most of DNAinfo’s stories will have conversations hosted on Neighborhood Square, like the one you see above.

But our goal is to provide a one-stop shop for all the things neighbors are talking about. That includes stories from other local news outlets alongside posts from people on the street, who are often the first to know about neighborhood happenings. If you see something in your 'hood or on the Web that you would discuss with a neighbor in real life, consider posting it to Neighborhood Square, and start a conversation.

What will happen to the comments sections below individual DNAinfo stories?

In about a month, they're going to go away. Your past comments will still be archived in your Disqus accounts. We want to move the vibrant, thoughtful conversations that naturally happen on a neighborhood news site like ours to a more visible, collaborative space.

Why are you doing this?

Our primary reason: because you asked for it. At DNAinfo, we're all about the neighborhoods, and there is more going on in Chicago neighborhoods than any newsroom could ever fully cover. We also know that the people within your neighborhoods are passionate, involved and extremely plugged in to what's happening in their 'hoods. Neighborhood Square gives everyone in your community a voice and a place to have conversations that matter.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: