Neighborhood, City Unite To Improve Roanoke Park

The neighbors raised $300 toward the cost of the toys by putting a PayPal option on the website of the Five Points Citizens Advisory Council and taking up a collection at a park party.

For the remaining $300, the neighbors sought a Neighborhood Improvement Grant through the Raleigh Community Services Department.

"The name 'grants' sounds scary," Gardner said. "But it was really easy, and that's one thing I would want people to know. The process for applying for these grants is easy, the city was great to work with, and it was just wonderful to be able to have that resource. We were able to get it done a lot faster than if we had to raise all the money ourselves."

At Gardner's suggestion, Community Services has changed the term to "funds" to encourage more neighborhood groups to apply and to emphasize the ease of applying for the program.

When Roanoke Park residents gathered to celebrate the arrival of the new toys, "there must have been 30 kids that day," Gardner said.

"When the weather is nice, the park is full," Gardner said. "The adults chat, and the kids play together. It's a neat, neat community park."

Charlene Willard, a community specialist in the Community Services Department, helped the Roanoke Park neighbors obtain the city funding for the toys.

"It's a great example of how average citizens who don't have experience writing grants can come together and through the assistance of our department successfully initiate and develop a project that benefits their neighborhood," Willard said.

"It is a great example of citizens and government working as a team to accomplish a beneficial outcome and something that might not have been possible otherwise."

Many types of neighborhood groups are eligible for Neighborhood Improvement Funds. Learn more about the program.