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Grant program renews streets

Residents of a Dunedin neighborhood use the city's Neighborhood Enhancement Program to beautify their cul-de-sac.

DUNEDIN - Amazing how little things - a new sign, a decorative streetlight, a sidewalk - can make a difference, especially in a neighborhood people often drive by without a second glance.

Those enhancements and others have changed the spirit of Edgewater Terrace, a cul-de-sac of 15 homes off Union Street.

"It really brought together a group of neighbors," said Janis Gallo, who spearheaded the improvements. "We all got on the same page about trying to enhance the community, trying to give it an identity."

Gallo said they owe the upgrade to the city's Neighborhood Enhancement Program, which was created in 2003 and has assisted several neighborhoods with beautification projects.

Vice Mayor Julie Scales came up with the idea for the matching grant program after reading an article about a similar program in the county.

"It's been responded to very well," said Scales. "The projects are all over the city. Edgewater Terrace was probably the most ambitious project. I think what they ended up with was very nice."

Since the program's inception, nearly a dozen Dunedin neighborhoods - including Spanish Trails, Braemoor South and Piper's Glen - have received project funds for landscaping or signs.

The city budgets $20,000 for the matching grant program each year. Neighborhoods come up with half of their projects' funds or donate volunteer hours.

To qualify for the program, the neighborhoods must submit an application that shows community support for the project, said Harry Gross, director of leisure services.

Generally, the homeowners association submits an application on behalf of the entire neighborhood.

Because Edgewater Terrace has no homeowners association, Gallo took the initiative and submitted an application in January 2004.

"I went to each neighbor and said, "Are you interested?' " she said. "Without fail, all of them said, "Yes.' I think we are all interested in improving our neighborhood."

Gallo said there were things that just didn't look nice in Edgewater Terrace, where she has lived since 1987, including a leaning concrete street lamp, a big dead end sign, and a lack of sidewalks and plants along Union Street.

The city finished the sidewalk first, and then did $8,300 worth of improvements. Edgewater Terrace residents matched that with volunteer hours coordinating the installation of lighting with Progress Energy, approving landscape designs, selecting plants and approving the new signs.

More than 11/2 years later, residents marvel at the change.

The concrete street lamp has been removed and a decorative street light installed on the other side. A new sidewalk and landscaping run along Union Street.

And the neighborhood is marked with a new entrance.

"Driving in is wonderful at night," said Jean McCloskey, an Edgewater Terrace resident. "The new light is very colonial looking, very attractive. It lights up the whole walk at night."

Resident Pat Brown called it welcoming.

"The entrance to our street was very barren," she said. "Now with the landscaping and the signs they put in, it really kind of frames the entryway to our street."

Brown said, as a result of the enhancements, residents are taking more of an interest in their own homes, replacing mailboxes and doing landscaping.

"I do think it has brought a new energy," she said. "People want to improve their own real estate."

Megan Scott can be reached at 445-4167 or mscott@sptimes.com

For more information about the Dunedin Neighborhood Enhancement Program, call 298-3260.