2018 Neighborhood Project Grant Results

2018 was the fourth year of our Neighborhood Project Grants. Once again there were strong applications with some original ideas from neighborhoods on how to bring neighbors together, while getting positive things accomplished for their living space. 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. 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, 2018.

Grants Impact

• Projects funded: 10
• Neighborhoods involved: 7
• Total funds awarded: $10,084.72
• Volunteer hours: 764
• Volunteer value ($24.14 per hour): $18,442.96
• Leveraged funds: $22,852.3

Projects Grants Awarded

Homestead Addition Neighborhood
Project: Pocket Park Improvement
Overview: A picnic table was purchased and installed in one of the neighborhood pocket parks following Park and Rec requirements. Approximately 1.5 miles of sidewalks were edged for a total of 3 miles (2 sides of the sidewalks). Approximately 15 loads of dirt were removed and hauled away.
Neighborhood Benefit: Created space for neighbors to gather and safe spaces to walk improving livability. In several areas, the width of the sidewalk increased by more than 1 foot. These sidewalks interconnect all of the pocket park areas that have small swing sets for kids to use. Some older homeowners were appreciative because they can no longer do that sort of landscaping work on their own.

Homestead Trails Neighborhood
Project: Welcome Home to Homestead Trails
Overview: The neighborhood entrance was dug up to install new fiber and electrical lines. Soil, mulch, water were hauled and replacement perennials and trees were planted around the identification sign. The neighborhood garden and gathering spot saw continued resurrection from the dump construction site it started as. Concrete, asphalt, copper pipe and rocks were hauled away. Two truckloads of manure and compost were brought in, and leaves were tilled into the garden.
Neighborhood Benefit: The garden area serves as a neighborhood gathering place for residents from 8 ½ Street, Homestead Addition, Homestead Trails and others. New neighbors joined the garden this year and helped with tree planting and fall garden/neighborhood clean-up. A neighborhood pot luck started three evenings a month where neighbors socialize and organize volunteer projects.

Historic SW Neighborhood
Project: Sign Toppers Wayfinding Signs Phase II
Overview: This effort expanded signage atop the street signs throughout the neighborhood and continued to create a visible boundary-wide identity and a sense of ‘place’ in 29 new locations.
Neighborhood Benefit: The visible representation of continuity to the geographic boundaries of streets, homes, and parks, enhances the quality of the neighborhood to the commercial and professional downtown areas. The signs also communicate the walk-ability and ease of bike friendly access.

Kutzky Park Neighborhood
Project: Fitness in the Park II
Overview: Instructors taught Saturday morning fitness sessions in Kutzky Park. The neighborhood association members scheduled instructors, brought audio equipment and welcomed participants, while having them sign a participation waiver. Class information was spread through the neighborhood association meetings, social media and email.
Neighborhood Benefit: This grant has caused increased positive use of the park, increasing safety for all ages. These fitness Saturdays have drawn 186 attendees into the park, some of which do not normally utilize the space. Participants were continually amazed by what a positive community resource Kutzky Park is. Many people have met that they did not know each other, building social cohesiveness.

Slatterly Park Neighborhood
Project: Welcome Baskets II
Overview: Through the delivery of a welcome basket filled with neighborhood business and association information paired with a bread making kit, neighbors are made aware of the Slatterly Park Neighborhood Association, its mission and activities.
Neighborhood Benefit: This project gave the opportunity to reach out to new residents in the neighborhood to welcome them. It has also helped build awareness of neighborhood meetings, events and resources with the new neighbors. Neighborhood association board members created and delivered 50 baskets in 2018.

Eastside Neighborhood
Project: Picnic-in-the-Park Flower Planting
Overview: After a neighborhood-wide survey it was found that members were interested in a summer picnic. The neighborhood association board added to the festivities a park improvement project to plant perennials around the three East Park signs and repair one sign.
Neighborhood Benefit: The effort was a visible effort showing neighbors and community that the neighborhood cares for and maintains its adopted park. The activity also raised awareness of an active and positive-minded neighborhood association and served as a springboard to reach and attract more neighbors not previously involved. Ongoing maintenance will be done by the Parks Department but will also be shared with neighbors who will feel a better connection with their park through their joint efforts.

Indian Heights Park Neighborhood
Project: Park information Kiosk
Overview: After working extensively on a Park Vision Plan the Indian Heights Neighborhood group and Dakota partners wanted to focus on one goal in the plan of an informational kiosk for the park entrance. Members worked with Native American artists Martin & Linda Bernard (Dakota/Chocktaw) to design the kiosk. These artists have on worked on several other outdoor sculpture projects in the Midwest.
Neighborhood Benefit: Funds gave the opportunity to work with Native sculptors to create design plans that can then be used to seek larger grants for kiosk construction. The completed kiosk will give community members and visitors an educational opportunity to consider the Indigenous people who once lived there and loved the land. Past circumstances forced one culture out while others moved in and prospered. The hope is that all park visitors can join together to honor those who once lived here and to enjoy this special place today.

Kutzky Park & Slatterly Park Neighborhoods
Project: Neighborhood Leaders (2) attending Neighborhoods USA Conference
Overview: Opportunity for neighborhood leaders to receive leadership training while attending the Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) Conference. In May 2019 both neighborhood leaders attending will be co-presenting with RNeighbors staff and board about active neighborhoods in Rochester, in a workshop entitled “Empowering Neighborhood Leaders: The Power of a Party”.
Neighborhood Benefit: NUSA provides tools and training to improve and maintain strong neighborhoods through workshops including tracks offered in 2018: Sustainable – Healthy Neighborhoods, Diversity, Youth and Aging, Fundraising: Grants and Government Programs, Neighborhood Leadership, Prepared communities, Technology and Social Action Close to Home.

We assembled a video that highlights several of the grant projects. View it here.

Interested in how you can put these grants to use in your neighborhood? Grant applications will be posted by January 2019 at RNeighbors.org. Application deadline is Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

Project Grant Partners

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

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