City of Riverside Receives National Recognition for Two Neighborhood Programs
Published: 6/4/2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 4, 2020
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
City of Riverside Receives National Recognition for Two Neighborhood Programs
Several cities from across the U.S. competed for recognition in multiple categories
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The City of Riverside has received two First Place awards in separate categories for two of its neighborhood programs.
The Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) Best Neighborhood Program Awards recognize outstanding programs implemented to improve neighborhoods by a governmental entity, business or corporation.
This year, and for the first time, the City of Riverside’s Neighborhood Engagement Division submitted two programs, including one in each category, for consideration. The categories include:
- Social Revitalization/Neighborliness: Programs focusing on the social or cultural aspects of a neighborhood, like safety, youth and/or senior programs, including activities that make neighbors feel connected and foster neighbors working together on programs.
Riverside won for Neighbor Fest, an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) training re-imagined into an interactive event designed like a street-fair. Booths with activities engaged the community to identify the assets and resources within their neighborhoods and in themselves that can be utilized to further the goals of the community.
- Physical Revitalization/Beautification: Programs that focus on physical aspects of improving neighborhoods, such as parks, lighting, litter control, traffic management, housing improvements, green spaces and business district enhancements.
Riverside won for the Small Sparks Neighborhood Matching Grant program, which provides cash to match community contributions of volunteer labor, donated professional services or materials, or cash donations in support of neighborhood-based, self-help projects.
Each year Neighborhood USA holds a conference where local government, non-profit agencies and community-based organizations are able to share best practices and programs that assist in improving the quality of life in neighborhoods around the United States.
Although the conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, conference organizers invited all finalists to be a part of a Zoom meeting on May 21, 2020 to announce this year’s winners. Riverside was the only agency that received multiple awards.
Neither one of these programs would be successful without the community’s participation in both the Neighbor Fest events as well as the Small Sparks program.
More information can be found at: www.NUSA.org
