One of the most delightful aspects of Won’t You Be My Neighbor? was getting to learn about how Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood evolved throughout the life of the show. Characters gained new identities, the set was adjusted, and present-day issues were addressed as the need arose.

At the same time, the core identity and shape of the program remained the same. Its mission was to reach children with a positive, supportive message. Every show started with Mister Rogers coming home, taking off his jacket, putting on a sweater, changing his shoes, and singing his classic song: “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Within this framework, Mister Rogers offered opportunities to explore different ideas and themes.

In the same way, our cities must be able to adapt to changing needs. The shoe repair shop might not be around forever, so let’s make sure that a hair salon or bakery could come and take its place. Residents in our cities may not always have the same demographic profile, so ensure that our cities can accommodate small and large families, young and old neighbors.

By the same token, we also need to take care that our cities secure their foundations. The biggest pitfall of the Suburban Experiment was throwing away every past piece of wisdom in order to develop in a completely new, untested manner—one that abandoned the traditional urban core and the historic building styles that came with it. As we adapt to the needs of new residents and new businesses, we also need to ensure that we don’t throw out what’s already been working for decades.

The consistency that made Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood such a successful show was also what allowed it to explore new ideas and current issues. We need to adopt this tactic in our neighborhoods, too.

3. If you love your city, you’ll help it grow stronger.

Mister Rogers’ message was all about loving children for who they are, but giving them the tools to be stronger, more whole human beings. His lessons focused on learning to control emotions, to accept people who look or think differently, and to get along with family and friends who may be difficult. He loved the people around him and wanted the best for them.

The same should be true of our cities. If we love them, we should want what’s best for them, and we should work to make that happen. We can love our cities deeply, while still recognizing they need to change if they're going to be strong and prosperous in the future.

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The little world of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood may seem a bit goofy and childish, but, to me, it's a beautiful model of community that we can all learn from—young and old.