Several neighborhood groups will take on community improvement projects using recent grants from the city.
The city of Arvada will allocate $45,808 in grants as part of the 2011 Neighborhood Improvement Program meant to inspire residents to clean up neighborhoods and meet their neighbors.
Groups could apply for large improvement grants, grants for smaller projects, or $100 “Know Your Neighbor” grants designed to get residents together in an informal meet-and-greet setting.
Groups of residents were required to write a grant proposal and show how the funding would revitalize a particular neighborhood or connect neighbors.
City Council approved the funding during the June 27 meeting.
Projects included funding to replace rotting fences, building community tool sheds or organizing neighborhood clean-up days. Volunteers from each neighborhood plan to carry out each project.
The Arvada Community Garden will build a large shed that will house tools for gardeners, but will also act as a home base for community gardening lessons and a library of gardening books.
A project organized by residents on Yarrow Street will result in planting tulips in 47 of the neighborhood’s front lawns.
Councilwoman Shelley Cook applauded the projects’ community components.
“All of these projects have a get-together element,” she said.
Some council members were concerned that many HOAs submitted applications and wondered if it was unfair to neighborhood groups without a built-in organizational structure.
Kevin Nichols, one of the city’s Neighborhood Program coordinators, said the city would examine ways to encourage participation from older parts of Arvada if the city provides community improvement grants in 2012.