Grant awarded for neighborhood improvements

City grants totaling $60,000 have been awarded to six neighborhood organizations to build gateways or identity signs at the entrances to their neighborhoods.

The grants were given as part of the City’s Neighborhood Partnership Grant Program. The program allows neighborhood groups to pledge volunteer time, supplies and professional services to match cash grants for projects such as the gateways.

“Gateways give us identity, and identity helps create pride in our community,” said Georgie Rasco, executive director of Neighborhood Alliance.

Organizations receiving the latest grants include:

• Doffing Neighborhood Association
• Helm Farm Neighborhood Association, Inc.
• Memorial Heights Neighborhood Association
• Westlawn Gardens Neighborhood Association
• Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., representing an
area along NE 23 between Kelley and I-35
• North Creston Hills Neighborhood Association

Each group received a grant of $10,000.

Grants can also be used for neighborhood projects such as graffiti cleanup and prevention, crime patrols, community gardens and landscaping.

The Neighborhood Partnership Program is open to incorporated neighborhood groups representing low- to moderate-income neighborhoods as defined by the 2000 Census. To find if your neighborhood qualifies for this program, contact the Oklahoma City Department of Neighborhood Services at 297-2655 or e-mail kay.buzzell@okc.gov.

Meanwhile, as you're looking at the new sign, you don't see the pothole that there was not enough money to properly repair, so now you're out the cost of a new tire, rim, and realignment.

In my neighborhood, we financed the signage ourselves, and for a lot less than ten G's. (Then again, it's small and unobtrusive.)

Does the city follow up on these grants to make sure the money is used appropriately.

Georgie from the Neighborhood Alliance told our new Neighborhood Association (Urban Neighbors, Downtown's Neighborhood Association) about them. You could always call her office for more info. I also believe the grants are available for other organizations as I think Downtown OKC was going to apply for one.

Actually Misty, downtown also has the original downtown neighborhood association. Downtown Residents Association or simply DRA.

When I told the Mayor's office about the association he referred me to Jeff Bezdek, who started DRA. We've asked Jeff to be our first President. Jeff put in a lot of work over the years and we are very happy to be "official" now and to have his expertise and experience.