2008 City Innovations Showcase
Community Revitalization and Redevelopment
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Yes We CAN: A New Approach to Neighborhood Grants
City of Clearwater
Clearwater Awards for Neighborhoods (CAN) merges the traditional matching grant program with an innovative neighborhood awards program. In an effort to encourage neighborhood-wide involvement that demonstrates community service, community building and neighborhood improvements, city staff met with community leaders and outlined the parameters required to compete for 19 cash awards totaling $25,000. With the CAN concept, the goal is to promote community and family values involving the entire community. The result was more meaningful programs and stronger communities.
Contact: Jeff Kronschnabl, Director
Development and Neighborhood Services Department
City of Clearwater
P.O. Box 4748
Clearwater, FL 32758
Phone: (727) 562-4724
E-mail: jeff.kronschnabl@myclearwater.com
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Code Enforcement “Volunteers on Patrol” Program
City of DeLand
The City of DeLand Code Enforcement Section established a “Volunteer on Patrol” program to assist in keeping properties in the city safe, clean and attractive. Each volunteer receives approximately 50 hours of training in code enforcement practices regarding the land-development regulations. Twelve active volunteers assist the city’s two code enforcement officers in investigating alleged violations of the city’s zoning ordinance and patrolling the city for routine violations. Since the program’s inception, the city has doubled the number of violations identified each month, provides weekend code enforcement, and routinely clears city arterial and collector streets of illegal signage resulting in a safer and more attractive city for residents and visitors.
Contact: Salli Combs, Code Enforcement Officer
Building Department
City of DeLand
120 S. Florida Avenue
DeLand, FL 32720
Phone: (386) 626-7029
E-mail: combss@deland.org
Neighborhood Improvement Task Force
City of Fort Myers
A Neighborhood Improvement Task Force composed of representatives from the Police, Fire, Public Works and Community Development departments was established to target crime and strengthen community partnerships. Members of the task force analyzed each neighborhood statistically, performed site visits and met with residents to determine their concerns. They established a comprehensive plan and coordinated neighborhood sweeps, criminal investigations, search warrants, clean ups and infrastructure improvements to sidewalks and streetlights. The task force also addressed traffic calming and park improvements and established neighborhood watches to foster a sense of security and renewed interest in the community. The program has proven to be very successful based on input from residents and community leaders.
Contacts: Doug Baker, Major of Operations
Police Department
City of Fort Myers
2210 Peck Street
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Phone: (239) 461-6201
E-mail: dbaker@fmpolice.com
Donna Lovejoy, Administrative Services Manager
Public Works Department
City of Fort Myers
2200 Second Street
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Phone: (239) 461-3757
E-mail: dlovejoy@cityftmyers.com
A Small Town with a Vision for Its Future
Town of Lee
The Madison County School Board cooperated with the Town of Lee in an effort to provide an economic stimulus – a business incubator. Their donation of an old school building has enabled the town to “incubate” several new businesses that have created job opportunities. On the horizon – a community youth center to provide youth with a vision for their future and the tools to achieve their goals. This will bolster the fundamental building blocks so desperately needed to overcome the obstacles facing the young adults of the community.
Contact: Cheryl Archambault
Town Manager
Town of Lee
186 N.E. County Road 255
Lee, FL 32059
Phone: (850) 971-5867
E-mail: leemanager@leeflorida.org
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Legacy Park
City of Margate
A Margate developer donated a structure built in 1995 to the City of Margate. The structure served as the first City Hall and as offices for numerous city departments for 26 years. As part of the city’s redevelopment initiative, the city deemed the then-abandoned structure to have historical significance. Unfortunately, renovation costs to restore the structure’s original appearance were prohibitive. The city declared that the site should be transformed to a commemorative passive park featuring a gazebo containing historical pictorials. Remarkably, city employees designed and constructed Legacy Park in only eight months.
Contact: George T. McNeill, Director
Parks and Recreation Department
City of Margate
5790 Margate Boulevard
Margate, FL 33063
Phone: (954) 972-6458
E-mail: gmcneill@margatefl.com
Suncoast Richey Theatre
City of New Port Richey
Founded in 1926 and having a legacy to film stars such as Thomas Meighan and Gloria Swanson, Richey Suncoast Theater has been lovingly restored to serve as a cultural hub and reminder of the City of New Port Richey’s glory days, when fame and fortune decorated the town. The theater received seating, chandeliers, a new ceiling, a sprinkler system and other interior renovations.
Contact: Doreen Lewis, Public Information Officer
City of New Port Richey
5919 Main Street
New Port Richey, FL 34652
Phone: (727) 853-1290
E-mail: lewisdm@cityofnewportrichey.org
Citizen Volunteers Help Revitalize Parks
City of Palm Bay
Citizens helped make improvements to A.J. Goode Park and Oakwood Park in the City of Palm Bay. A team of volunteers from a large home-improvement store descended on A.J. Goode Park, one of Palm Bay’s best-loved parks, and made it even better. The waterfront park is heavily used, and the pavilion and attached restrooms were in need of a coat of paint. In addition, the Palm Bay Moose Lodge saw a need for a safety barrier at Oakwood Park, so it partnered with volunteer teams made up of employees from a local home-improvement store, representatives from nonprofit organizations, concerned citizens and Palm Bay Parks and Recreation. They built a long, strong barrier to separate the well-traveled road from the playground. Materials were donated by local businesses, and volunteers assisted city staff with installing the fence and painting the park’s pavilion and tables.
Contact: Daniel S. Earp, Marketing Specialist
Parks and Recreation Department
City of Palm Bay
5270 Babcock Street, N.E.
Palm Bay, FL 32907
Phone: (321) 726-2328
E-mail: earpd@pbfl.org
Victoria Park
City of Palm Bay
Palm Bay’s newest park is the culmination of years of effort by a public agency to turn an abandoned mobile-home park into a thriving community park. The site, which also included a garbage-filled drainage ditch and pond, formerly was a haven for drug deals and prostitution. Through a partnership among city departments and the Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency, the property was acquired by the city for drainage improvements. The drainage project evolved to include playground equipment and a pavilion with picnic facilities to serve a neighborhood that had no access to community parks.
Contact: Daniel S. Earp, Marketing Specialist
Parks and Recreation Department
City of Palm Bay
5270 Babcock Street, N.E.
Palm Bay, FL 32907
Phone: (321) 726-2328
E-mail: earpd@pbfl.org
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