Clearwater Awards Neighborhood Achievement Grants

Clearwater city officials recently 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 following prizes, ranging from $500 to $2,500, were presented:

City Council Award for Beautification

• First Place - Village on the Green Condo II Association
• Second Place - Imperial Park Owners Association

City Manager’s Award for Charity and Volunteerism

• First Place - Grovewood Homeowners Association
• Second Place - Del Oro Groves Estates
• Third Place - Tropic Hills Homeowners

Development and Neighborhood Services Director’s Award for Creativity

• First Place - Morningside Meadows
• Second Place - Island Estates Civic Association
• Third Place - Northwood West Homeowners Association

Also awarded were prizes ranging $250 to $500, including:

• Best New Neighborhood Association - North Greenwood Community Coalition
• Best Hurricane/Safety Plan - Imperial Park
• Most Improved Association - Tropic Hills Homeowners
• Best Crime Watch - Mission Hills Condominium Association
• Best Communication System - Grovewood Homeowners
• Most Attendance at City Meetings - Clearwater Beach Association
• Adopt-a-Neighborhood Award - Bayview Heights
• Most Healthy and Fit Neighborhoods - Village on the Green Condo II and Del Oro Groves

The program, 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 will be used for further positive neighborhood involvement and improvement activities in the neighborhoods.