Neighborhood Participation Program
The application period for the 2024 Neighborhood Participation Program is now closed.
Thank you to everyone who applied for last year's Neighborhood Participation Program!
City Council approved the recommended projects on May 22, 2023. Learn more about the projects: Lakewood Speaks - Item 8 – Approving the 2023 Neighborhood Participation Program Projects
Program Details
Lakewood's Neighborhood Participation Program (NPP) offers grants of up to $60,000 for qualifying physical improvement projects that residents believe will make a difference in their neighborhood.
Examples of projects built through the Neighborhood Participation Program include:
- Community gardens
- New playground equipment and picnic facilities in neighborhood parks
- Public art
- Landscaping projects
NPP funds will not be used to fund projects covered under other city programs. These projects include sidewalk repair, traffic signals, streetlights, street paving, speed humps and others.
For a project to be eligible, it must have a general benefit to the neighborhood, be located on public property and come from groups representing the neighborhood. The application must include demonstrated support for the project through letters, petitions or other means, and signatures of property owners adjacent to the project. Projects located on public school property must also include letters of support from the school principal and the school district. For the full list of the program requirements, please see the application form.
Projects compete directly with all other applications received based on six selection categories.
- Neighborhood contribution: Is the neighborhood planning to contribute to the project? This is not required, but it is encouraged and applications that indicate neighborhood contribution through funding, labor, or maintenance may score higher.
- Benefit versus cost: How does the project benefit the neighborhood?
- Health and safety: How does the project improve the health and safety of the neighborhood?
- Adopted citywide plans: How does the project address goals identified in citywide plans, such as the Comprehensive Plan, Sustainability Plan, Community Resources Master Plan or others?
- Neighborhood support: Is there neighborhood support for the project? At least five resident signatures with addresses must be included with the application. The more signatures, the stronger the application. If there are affected property owners, their signatures with addresses must also be included.
- Project maintenance needs: What is the maintenance plan for the project? Projects that will not substantially add to the City's maintenance responsibilities may score higher in this category.
City Council makes the final selection of projects to be funded. After projects are selected, city staff works closely with the neighborhood to ensure the project meets the neighborhood's request.
Contact Information:
communityorg@lakewood.org