2019 Neighborhood Project Grant Results

2019 was the fifth year of our Neighborhood Project Grants. These grants reimburse up to $1,000 in costs for neighborhoods to complete projects that enhance a neighborhood’s livability and involvement, benefit the entire neighborhood and promote a strong sense of community. Once again there were strong applications with some original ideas from neighborhoods on how to bring neighbors together like fitness in the park, while getting positive things accomplished for their living space such as gardens, identity signage, and public art. You can read a summary of the individual grants below. Each of the applications had to ensure that the neighbors would put in the volunteer effort to bring the project to completion by October 30, 2019.

Impact of 2019 Project Grants

• Projects funded: 13
• Neighborhoods involved: 7
• Volunteer hours: 861
• Value of volunteer hours ($25.43 per hour): $21,895.23

2019 Project Grant Contributors

• City of Rochester
• Olmsted County Public Health SHIP
• IBM Volunteers Grant

Annual Video
In this short production you’ll get a glimpse at some evolving Rochester neighborhoods and hear from a few of the friendly faces who put in time to improve and strengthen their living spaces. View it here.

2020 Project Grants
Interested in how you can put these grants to use in your neighborhood? Grant applications will be posted in February 2020 at RNeighbors.org. Application deadline is Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

Project Grant Partners

• City of Rochester
• Park and Recreation Department
• Public Works Department
• SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, Olmsted County Public Health)
• IBM
• RNeighbors

Individual Project Summaries

Project: Landscaping for Unbroken (sculpture)
Work completed by: Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA)

Neighborhood Benefit
The sculpture Unbroken is not in a particular neighborhood but is in Mayo Park, which is one of the ENA’s adopted parks.  This was a collaboration between the Parks and Recreation Department, Art4Trails, Artist Katya Roberts, and Eastside Neighborhood Association.  Landscaping was important to the completion of the installation, and the ENA was credited with its contribution by Art4Trails at its June 2019 event and in its published materials. Plants chosen are low-maintenance and drought-resistant, weeding is not expected to be a significant issue. ENA took on this grant after the neighborhood it was originally awarded to did not have the capacity to complete it.

Project: Eastside Mayo Field Community Food Garden
Awarded to: Eastside Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Benefit
This project improved the community garden while sharing it with a broader segment of the neighborhood.  It was not well known as it is small and somewhat hidden behind the ballpark and houses.  The gardeners and several neighbors weighed in through an ENA meeting and emails to determine what improvements would be best. Neighbors donated time and tools to cut rebar, others placed the rebar and put up the fencing, and another group looked into the garden operation and met with the Parks Department to learn about the policies. Next year the plan is to digitize and update the garden contract and help the main garden manager as needed.

“We learned there is increased interest in gardening and by sharing it more widely we expect more people will make use of it. It was the location of this year’s annual Picnic-in-the-Park so we could share the garden and bring people together there. We also had signs made announcing the picnic that we can use every year. It is a special place, a hidden gem, that we will now all share.” -Helen Roland, Eastside Neighborhood Association

Project: Historic Educational Sign Placement
Awarded to: Historic Homestead Addition Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Benefit
This project is an addition to the improvements that the neighborhood has already made to the small pocket park areas. These park locations are interconnected by sidewalks. The sign was presented to the Rochester Heritage Preservation Commission at their May meeting.  At that time, it was asked if this was the first in a series of signs for the neighborhood. Topics would possibly be Ellerbe Architects designing these homes, the early passive solar design of these homes and the history of the Church (previously Homestead Methodist).

Neighbors helped with the sign placement and cleanup of the park area on that day.  Additionally, other neighbors took on the task of trimming park areas and cleaning the sand under swings throughout the summer. Creative Crosswalk repainting took place in early August.

“Adding this sign, promotes pride in the neighborhood by educating neighborhood residents and others about the significance of this neighborhood’s history.  Some neighbors were aware of the historic significance prior to this, while others were surprised.” -Eileen Zirbel, Historic Homestead Addition Neighborhood Association

Project: Fitness in the Park & Walking Path Sculpture (Flathead)
Awarded to: Kutzky Neighborhood Association (KPNA)

Neighborhood Benefit
Fitness in the Park:  It was an interesting year with the flooding in the park.  It strangely brought people together in different ways beyond the class.  We had volunteer hours of walking the park check to see if conditions were good enough to have classes.  So even people who were not directly involved with each week’s classes would walk the park and make sure it was not wet or too muddy.

This grant again was a positive use of City Park land.  This use makes the parks feel safer for all age groups.  We continue to see increased healthy park use: Running, walking, biking, and families using the playground equipment.  Not only does this help keep the park safe for community members but also visitors for the tennis facility who come from longer distances.  It also keeps the park cleaner from glass and cans.  Many participants in the class end up making friends with other participants and build health based social networks.

Flathead:

“It was surprising how easy it was to raise money for art with this KPNA group.   Many people felt very passionate about it.  It was a lot of conversation starters at social events and also at meetings.  It was common ground that people could engage with neighbors about.  Also the board received many thanks as did the KPNA Facebook page.  I know one e-mail we received was of someone who had lived in Kutzky Park and he never thought we could ever have anything as nice in the park in his lifetime.” -Tim Hawkins, Kutzky Neighborhood Association

Project: Sign Toppers
Awarded to: Lowertown Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Benefit
Last year the Northrop neighborhood adopted a new name of Lowertown to reconnect with the area’s historical name of the 1880’s.
“The sign toppers have helped to foster a stronger sense of recognition and identity for all the parts of our neighborhood.” -Sandy Guyse, Lowertown Neighborhood Association

Project: Neighborhood Signage
Awarded to: The Manor Neighborhood Association

Grant was cancelled. Funds returned due to a neighbor stepping up to do the work himself.

Project: Fishes ‘n Apples Program & Back to the Eden Community Garden
Awarded to: Oak Terrace & Parkside Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Benefit
The “Fishes ‘n Apples” and “Back to the Eden Garden Program” were physical activity and health education programs designed specifically for Oak Terrace neighborhood in Rochester.

“This was a community initiative that gave the children and adults of Oak Terrace & Parkside mobile home neighborhood the opportunity to have better health, developing healthy eating habits and being physically active within the discipline of swimming and gardening; at the same time, it helped children and adults to build bonds of friendship in our neighborhood.” -Anavelia Segura, Oak Terrace & Parkside Neighborhood Association

Project: Art on the Avenue 10th Anniversary Sculpture & Community Garden Supplies
Awarded to: Slatterly Park Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Benefit
Volunteers monitored the installation progress almost daily and ran into many neighbors and community members curious about what was going on. This sparked many thoughtful and connecting conversations between people who may not have connected otherwise. We anticipate this connection continuing as people discover and re-visit the sculpture. The public sculpture; Passion, is one of the largest in the City of Rochester, and a proud new addition to the Slatterly Park Arts District.

“This project signifies a strong sense of community pride and connects art, especially youth who can be inspired by public art! The sculpture acts as a meeting point in the neighborhood, where people often are seen meeting in passing that sparks a conversation. I am not sure if this was intentional, but has certainly become a focal point of conversation, and reflection that will be a gem for many generations well into the future!” -Naren Hulsing, Slatterly Park Neighborhood Association

Project: Community Garden Fencing and Supplies
Awarded to: Homestead Trails Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Benefit
The garden area serves as a neighborhood gathering place with our mini-library, bench, cluster mailboxes, fruit trees and garden. Residents from 8 ½ Street, Homestead Addition, Homestead Trails and others regularly gather in both green spaces.

“We continued to rehabilitate the industrial construction dump site where we established a neighborhood garden and gathering spot. We collected and hauled away concrete, asphalt, copper pipe, rocks, etc. from the garden. We hauled in 2 truck loads of manure and compost while tilling in leaves. We purchased a wheel borrow and a tall deer fence with the grant that will help keep deer from eating our produce.” April Sutor, Homestead Trails Neighborhood Association

Project: Neighborhood Leaders (2) Neighborhoods USA Conference Attendance
Awarded to: Kutzky Park & Slatterly Park Neighborhoods

This grant opportunity is for neighborhood leaders to receive leadership training while attending the Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) Conference. In May 2019 both neighborhood leaders co-presented with RNeighbors staff and board about active neighborhoods in Rochester, in a workshop entitled “Empowering Neighborhood Leaders: The Power of a Party”.

NUSA provides tools and training to improve and maintain strong neighborhoods through workshops including tracks offered: Sustainable – Healthy Neighborhoods, Diversity, Youth and Aging, Fundraising: Grants and Government Programs, Neighborhood Leadership, Prepared communities, Technology and Social Action Close to Home.

2019 Project Grants Judging Committee

• Mei Ling Huie, HSW Neighborhood Association and past Neighborhood Project grant recipient
• Cassie Greenwood, Public Health
• Troy Roberston, Public Works
• Michelle Nestler, RNeighbors
• Mike Nigbur, Park and Forestry
• Kelly Corbin, MNDot
• René Halasy, RNeighbors Executive Director

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