City of Riverside Seeking Public Input for “Pathways to Health” Grant Proposal
Published: 09/19/2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sept. 19, 2018
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
City of Riverside Seeking Public Input for “Pathways to Health” Grant Proposal
Smart Growth and Climate Improvement Grant from State of California could bring millions of dollars to Riverside for public improvements in Eastside and Downtown neighborhoods
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The City of Riverside is seeking the public’s input on a grant application to the State of California that could bring millions of dollars in additional resources to the Eastside and Downtown neighborhoods.
Opportunities to learn about the grant and provide feedback include a new webpage, email address, online survey, and public meetings this week and continuing through mid-October.
The city’s application, dubbed “Pathways to Health,” seeks to demonstrate the need in Riverside for additional funds to pay for more affordable housing, expanded transit opportunities to help people get around without a car, expanded bike lanes, and other projects that make it easier and safer to walk from one place to another. Other options for the grant funds include energy efficiency efforts, conservation, planting community gardens and park improvements.
Information about public meetings and other ways to contribute can be found at a new website -- https://www.riversideca.gov/pathwaystohealth -- and comments can be emailed to: [email protected].
“There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our residents, so this grant represents a real opportunity for Riverside,” Mayor Rusty Bailey said. “I encourage Riverside residents to come to the scheduled meetings, provide feedback by email and help the City put forth the best possible grant application.”
Riverside is applying for funds from the California Strategic Growth Council’s Transformative Climate Communities program, which seeks to produce public health and environmental benefits through the reduction of emissions from sources of air pollution. The grants are designed to improve areas that are economically challenged and have experienced pollution issues in the past.
The City of Ontario received $35 million from the TCC program last year. Officials there said the money would help build an urban village in downtown Ontario, among other projects that were planned for the next three years.
The project area in Riverside is bounded roughly by Third Street to the north, 12th and 14th Street/Martin Luther King Drive to south, Brockton Avenue to the west, and Chicago and Iowa avenues to the east (see map).
The area includes North High School, Patterson, Bobby Bonds and Lincoln parks, the proposed Chicago/Linden affordable housing project, the Cesar Chavez Community Center, the planned Mission Heritage affordable housing project, and Longfellow and Grant elementary schools.
City staff has been meeting with community groups for about five weeks. Upcoming meetings include:
• Riverside Downtown Partnership, noon, Thursday (9/20), 3666 University Avenue, #100.
• Centro de Ninos, 12:30 p.m., Thursday (9/20), 2010 Martin Luther King Blvd.
• Riverside City Hall, 5th floor large conference room, 6 p.m. Thursday (9/20), 3900 Main Street.
• Community Settlement Association, 11:30 a.m., Sept. 26, 4366 Bermuda Avenue.
• Mayor’s Ceremonial Room, 7th floor, City Hall, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 1, 3900 Main Street.
• Youth Opportunity Center, 11:30 a.m., Oct. 10, 2060 University Avenue.
• University Neighborhood Association, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 11, 3431 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Residents and business owners from across Riverside are invited to participate in the survey process and attend the meetings. You do not have to live in the project area to participate.
“Public participation is an important component of the ‘Pathways to Health’ grant application,” Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Conder said. “The public is encouraged to provide suggestions on possible improvements that could be funded by such a grant.”
The new website -- https://www.riversideca.gov/pathwaystohealth -- provides opportunities for comment, links to grant materials, and information about upcoming meetings. Public suggestions and comment can also be emailed to: [email protected].
Materials are available in alternative formats by calling Andrea at 951-826-5649 (voice) or 1-800-735-2929 (TDD). The identified formats can be provided if notification is given one (1) week in advance.
Public comment on the Grant application will be taken until 4:30 P.M., on October 19, 2018. A decision on grant application from the state is expected by the end of the year.
