Neighborhood's pocket park up for national grant
By Mattia Bray
Special to the Reporter-News
Sunday, December 2, 2007

The Old Town Neighborhood Association is partnering with the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest and Caring Connecting Communities to create a "pocket park."
The project is the only one from Abilene among 100 semi-finalists for a $10,000 grant from a Washington, D.C., foundation started by Steve and Jean Case.
A pocket park is a small area that focuses on the needs of the immediate area rather than the whole city.
Work on the Abilene pocket park has already started. Volunteers have cleared a partially fenced vacant lot near Heavenly Rest and a Habitat for Humanity addition.
The park is two lots -- a total of 100 by 140 feet. The property was purchased for $1,500 by Lydia Long at a tax sale and is being leased to the neighborhood association until the group can buy it.
Long, president of the neighborhood association in south central Abilene, is spearheading this project. As a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city of Abilene, Long has the opportunity to give voice to neighborhood concerns.
Long comes from a criminal justice background and believes strongly that cleaning and reuniting a neighborhood builds community and lowers crime.
"We are a neighborhood in action with many people involved on different levels, be it the resident who on cleanup day hauled trash from neighbor's yards, or the elderly lady who brought cookies that day," she said.
Long said there is no real safe place for children to play or residents to gather. She and others are interested in purchasing several vacant lots for planting trees, putting in gardens and having a small playground.
The association has identified several locations for other possible pocket parks, located sources to help construct playground equipment, and is beginning discussions with the city concerning liability issues. The association is partnering with the Heavenly Rest church and Connecting Caring Communities on the project. Connecting Caring Communities is a local nonprofit agency that seeks to strengthen neighborhoods.
Through an Old Town neighborhood survey delivered to 500 households, it was discovered that "appearance issues" is the No. 1 concern among respondents.
Citizens have begun to address this issue through neighborhood cleanups. The cleanups have been so successful that residents are ready to begin the next step: beautification projects.
In October, Long began working on a grant for the Case Foundation. This foundation launched the "Make It Your Own Awards" in June.
Long has spent countless hours walking her neighborhood, interviewing residents, taking and sending photos to include in the grant and requesting letters of recommendation for the project. She submitted her proposal Nov. 9.
The Case Foundation was hoping for at least 1,000 applications; it received 4,641. The foundation committee selected 100 from that number, and Abilene's proposal is included in that list.
Each proposal from the initial 100 selected will receive $100 to jump-start their efforts. In February, the top 20 finalists will be selected and each will be awarded a $10,000 grant for their project.
The final four will be selected by an online community and each will receive an additional $25,000.
If Abilene's project wins, the association would use the grant money to buy playground equipment and benches.
Long said she is thrilled and proud her project is among the 100 semifinalists.
"I nicknamed our area the 'Neighborhood of Liberty.' We have many poor, elderly and disabled citizens who will hobble out to help a neighbor in need," she said. "A call for help in our neighborhood is quickly met with concerned neighbors."

© 2007 Abilene Reporter-News