Thirteen Neighborhood Achievement Grants AwardedCLEARWATER, Fla. – Clearwater city officials awarded $25,000 in grants to 13 neighborhoods as part of the city’s second annual Clearwater Awards for Neighborhoods. Mayor Frank Hibbard presented the Mayor’s Award of Excellence Grand Prize of $5,000 to Edgewater Drive Homeowners Association for the second year in a row for their projects and civic activism. Other prizes ranging from $2,500 to $500 were presented. The Mayor’s Award of Excellence First Place went to North Greenwood Coalition, and Bayview Heights and Clearwater Beach were tied for Second Place. The City Council Award for Beautification First Place went to Village on the Green Condo II Association, and Second Place went to Imperial Park Owners Association. Grovewood Homeowners Association took First Place in the City Manager’s Award for Charity and Volunteerism, Second Place went to Del Oro Groves Estates and Third Place went to Tropic Hills Homeowners. The Development and Neighborhood Services Director’s Award for Creativity also had three winners: First Place, Morningside Meadows; Second Place, Island Estates Civic Association; and Third Place, Northwood West Homeowners Association. Smaller prizes of $500 to $250 were also awarded. North Greenwood Community Coalition was awarded the Best New Neighborhood Association. Imperial Park had the best Hurricane/Safety Plan. Tropic Hills Homeowners was the Most Improved Association. Mission Hills Condominium Association had the Best Crime Watch. Grovewood Homeowners had the Best Communication System. Clearwater Beach Association had the Most Attendance at City Meetings. Bayview Heights received the Adopt-a-Neighborhood Award. Village on the Green Condo II and Del Oro Groves were the Most Healthy and Fit Neighborhoods. The CAN! Program (Clearwater Awards for Neighbor-hoods), developed by the City’s Neighborhood Services Department, is designed to strengthen the community with neighborhood activities and involvement at the grassroots level. Over the course of one year, neighborhoods implemented projects such as creative social events, fundraisers, block parties, charity events, beautification projects, newsletters, and other communications tools. They chronicled their efforts in scrapbooks or videos and presented their achievements before a panel of judges. The award money is to be used for further positive neighborhood involvement and improvement activities in the neighborhoods. To get involved in the coming year, at least one neighbor must attend a program orientation. Orientations will be held in December and January. For futher information, please call Clearwater Neighborhood Services at 562-4772.
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