Neighbors Gather in Park Hill

On Tuesday, August 21, neighbors gathered for a neighborhood meeting in the newly-remodeled community room of Park Hill Senior Apartments at 535 W. Concordia. Outside, elder residents looked on as children enjoyed games and a martial arts demonstration led by volunteers from the Harambee neighborhood. Members of Solomon Temple United Methodist Church adjourned Bible class early to come over and participate in the meeting.

Residents and church members committed to working together in Park Hill to implement the main strategies laid out in the Neighborhood Action Plan:

1. Work with neighbors to do small projects that build community pride and improve the appearance and environment in their immediate area.



2. Help match homes for sale with homebuyers they know to increase owner-occupancy within their area.



3. Make efforts to reach out to neighbors, connect them with the organizations that are working together under the plan, and become ambassadors and leaders in making the neighborhood a great place to live.

In addition, residents heard about the new and increased resources the plan calls for:

1. Loans and grants for home improvements that fit with current residents' financial situation;


2. Incentives to attract new homebuyers who will live in the neighborhood;


3. Funds for community pride projects such as landscaping projects, vacant lot clean-ups, house lighting projects, neighborhood identity projects and other activities to connect neighbors and create positive neighborhood image;


4. More sources of support and information from neighborhood organizations for their positive efforts.

New leaders stepped up and agreed to meet again to plan a community pride project in two weeks. Then they enjoyed some ice cream together, complete with hot fudge, whipped cream and cherries.