The BeatWalk Story

Back in 1995, neighbors banded together to address serious issues confronting the Columbia City neighborhood: crime, boarded-up storefronts and a lot of frightened neighbors. Together they created a vision of the kind of neighborhood they wanted to see, and out of that initial town hall meeting BeatWalk was born.

New to the neighborhood, Darryl Smith stepped forward and offered to plan a one-time event where people would pay $5 to go to 5 different businesses to listen to live music. He believed music had the power to bring people together, and having businesses full on a Friday night could begin to transform the neighborhood into a fun and safe place. Darryl was willing to pay for the bands out of his own pocket, and rallied neighbors to help him hand out flyers and collect money.

The first BeatWalk surpassed everyone’s expectations. There were over 200 attendees—reportedly the largest gathering in Columbia City since the 1940s. Business owners were overjoyed to have more customers than they’d ever had at one time. Residents were thrilled with the energy created in an area that had been stigmatized and rarely thought of as a ‘destination’. Music was spilling out into the streets, and cars driving through stopped and people joined in the fun. The support to continue the event was overwhelming.

In the years since, BeatWalk has been a key component in transforming Columbia city into the thriving neighborhood and business hub that it is today. Originally organized by the Columbia City Revitalization Committee (CCRC), the Columbia City Business Association took it over in 2004 when the CCRC disbanded. News of this event has spread far and wide, and people from as far away as Indiana have contacted BeatWalk for help and guidance in creating such an event in their area.

BeatWalk’s mission is to provide an affordable live music experience for all ages, with music that reflects the diversity of the area. More than 13 years since its inception, BeatWalk now draws to area businesses between 300 and 400 people every month, May through September. It’s a community-run event: proceeds go to the musicians and pay for minimal administrative costs. A coordinator receives a small monthly stipend, and each BeatWalk is run by a group of five to seven volunteers. BeatWalk employed over 160 locals musicians for its 2009 season, and fuels the local economy by bringing in a steady stream of new clientele.