Love Your Block

Wondering about examples of successful projects from previous Love Your Block years?

Read on to learn more about Feed the Hood, Knoxville’s Positivity Garden, and South Side Slopes Mission and Barry Streets Beautification.

Feed the Hood was the first project under the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh’s Farm-A-Lot program. The URA and community partners organized to regenerate vacant green space into a place of healing and positive interaction in Homewood North.

Using food and community engagement as the catalyst for this project, the Homewood Parklet was revitalized into an Orchard Park. 

The Knoxville Community Council applied to maintain the Positivity Garden on Zara Street that was created by neighbors on Zara Street. In addition to making improvements to the garden, the Council wanted to expand its impact by doing neighborhood clean ups with a focus on picking up litter and removing overgrowth throughout the neighborhood.

Grantees have said that without this funding, they would have had to close this garden as they simply couldn't do it without the grant’s help.

In the South Side Slopes, the application proposed a beautification project at the intersection of Mission and Barry Streets at the bottom of the Mission Street public staircase. The main focus was to organize general cleanup, cut back and remove weeds and overgrowth focusing on the corner and public staircase along both sides of steps at that location.

This project revitalized the public staircase, and returned it to its intended role as a community asset.

Please keep these basic requirements in mind before applying:

• Love Your Block is a City of Pittsburgh program with awards ranging from $1500, $1000, and $500.
• Funding is provided through reimbursement after project implementation.
• Funding must be awarded through a nonprofit. If your organization is not a nonprofit, you can ask one to be your sponsor. Nonprofits are welcome to sponsor multiple projects.
• Projects must benefit the public.
• The goal of the selection committee is to select high impact projects throughout the entire city. 
• Projects on private property must have the written permission of the owner.
• All projects are subject to City of Pittsburgh Zoning and Permit guidelines.

In planning for strong and successful projects, consider the following priorities:

1. Build strong partnerships

• Partnering with other organizations, nonprofits, or groups to complete this project.
• Recruit volunteers from neighborhood groups or organizations.
• Ask local businesses to lend a hand or donate food or materials.

2. Leverage donations

• Ask residents or local businesses to donate plants, compost material, or food for your volunteer event day.

3. Make sure it’s feasible and sustainable

• If you have a huge idea, make Love Your Block a first step in the right direction and secure some other partners that can assist with your plans.
• Make sure your idea is something that requires minimal maintenance, or can be maintained simply by volunteers.

4. Engage neighbors

• While your volunteers can come from anywhere, we’ve found that the most impactful projects utilize volunteers within proximity to the project. People like to be a part of what’s happening next door and are more likely to maintain and sustain the project afterward if they helped plan and implement it.