Vital Neighborhoods

Vital Neighborhoods is a program administered by the Preservation Alliance aimed at stabilizing mid to moderate-income neighborhoods essential to the economic well being of the surrounding area. Below are details on the 2009 round of projects.

With help from local resident leaders and funding from the Preservation Alliance we have been able to transform the once understated community garden at 29th and Harper Streets into a space bursting with community pride. Complete with raised planting beds, more secure yet welcoming gates, and a large deck for leisure activities and community meetings the garden is the newest neighborhood gem.

The Veteran’s Memorial Park, located at 31st & Girard Aveneues is receiving a much needed face lift. Improvements include:

• Cleaning and restoration of the monument
• A new plaque honoring local veterans of all wars
• One, 20 foot-high flagpole with both the American Flag and the POW Flag
• A new landscape design and plantings
• Benches for visitors and veterans

The work is slated to finish in summer of 2010.

The 2900 Block of Cambridge street is uniquely challenging in that one block’s front doors face the garage backs of the next block. To restore neighborhood pride and create a greater sense of community we have started a process to allow property owners to make improvements to either their front facade or garage back at little to no cost.