Community Happiness Project expands with ‘happiness box’

On a corner lot in St. Petersburg’s Oakwood Gardens neighborhood, a simple yet impactful “community oasis” comes complete with artificial grass, bright yellow seating, toys, inspirational signs and more.

“[It’s] a little less, ‘Get off my lawn,’ and a little more, ‘Let’s have some lemonade and get to know each other,’” said Adam Peters, creator of the Community Happiness Project.

Peters created the Community Happiness Project in spring 2023, the result of many hours of research and a mindset change he went through during the Covid-19 pandemic while he (and the rest of the world) was stuck at home and feeling isolated.

“Before I started thinking more positively, I was very cynical, very certain that nothing was going to change, so why even try? Why bother? Just turn on Netflix and go numb,” Peters recalls. “I went to school for political science, so I’ve studied the macro of the world, and it can be very discouraging because it is a little scary right now. If you just read the headlines, it’s very easy to think the sky is falling.”

Peters remembers searching for a way to feel connected to his community and change his glass-half-empty mindset. Inspired by research on psychology and the impact of positive thinking, and Gary King’s Happiness Experiment (his famous ‘Happiness’ signs are posted throughout St. Pete and in Peters’ front yard oasis), he started creating the first semblances of his “social experiment” in happiness in his front yard, adding details and interactive ways to get involved, like painted “happiness rocks.”

“It’s all about positivity,” Peters said. “I was like, ‘How can I remind people that things are good?’ Personally, I can’t go to the U.N. and give some rousing speech to convince everybody to stop bombing and doing awful things. But what I can do is start with right here, to remind people that you can find happiness and generate kindness wherever you are.”

Adam Peters, author and founder of the Community Happiness Project.

In January, he put a call out to the online St. Pete community asking for donated supplies to build a “curiosities cabinet.” His family helped him build the cabinet, which Peters painted and added to his front yard oasis in January 2024. The cabinet is similar to the popular Little Free Libraries but is filled with shareable trinkets, a “guest book” with messages from past visitors, and activities meant to help people see and spread happiness. A few inspirational books have found their way there as well. 

“I love seeing people sit here; I’ve seen couples on evening walks just sit and chat for a while. I have a very nice lady at the corner whose elder dog loves the spot because she likes resting here on her walks,” Peters said. “There are a couple of dads that I’ve noticed bring their very young kids here and let them play with the ring toss, and there’s a mom with a young boy who comes to drop painted rocks off. It’s become like a regular spot for people in the neighborhood, but we also have people in town visiting who just happen to stop by and really enjoy it.”

Although it’s been a popular addition to his project, Peters doesn’t plan to build any more “curiosity cabinets” around town. Instead, he hopes to inspire others to see positivity and spread happiness in their own lives (and yards), however that may take shape.

In addition to his project in St. Pete, Peters recently wrote a book called The Blueprint to Happy. After a book launch party this Sunday, he plans to hit the road, sharing his experiences and message of joy through a book tour around the country.

“It’s really about being the change you want to see in the world,” Peters said. “I would love to see a Community Happiness Project in every neighborhood.”

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