New Neighborhood Pride Areas Announced

On Wednesday, Mayor Coleman kicked off the 10th edition of “Neighborhood Pride” and announced the four Columbus neighborhoods that would receive targeted resources aimed at clean up efforts, code violation enforcement, and crime control this year. Those locations include Brice-Tussing, Arlington Park, Deshler Park and Clinton Estates.

Press Release:
Mayor, Council Join Residents To Announce New Neighborhood Pride Areas

The 10th season of Neighborhood Pride began today on the city’s Far East Side in the Tussing Blockwatch neighborhood. Pride was kicked off at Tussing Elementary School in an effort to reach out to help hundreds of families work with City crews to clean, fix up, beautify and strengthen Columbus’ neighborhoods. Local residents, business owners and City teams joined Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Councilmembers Hearcel F. Craig, Andrew J. Ginther and Eileen Y. Paley to announce four new neighborhoods to be toured.

“Neighborhood Pride works because families are getting involved on their own street to help solve problems and improve their quality of life,” said Mayor Coleman. “We need everyone, including residents, businesses, schools, churches and the city, working together to improve our own neighborhoods. From code enforcement to house painting and from litter pick-ups to block watches, Pride is helping more families get active in their communities.”

Neighborhood Pride was created by Mayor Coleman in 2000, bringing together city departments to coordinate services proactively into a specific area for a full week. It was nationally recognized in 2006 as one of the reasons Columbus was selected as an All America City. Since 2000, Columbus employees worked in 60 Pride areas, and today, the Mayor announced four new Neighborhood Pride districts for 2009, including: Brice-Tussing, Arlington Park, Deshler Park and Clinton Estates.

“The Neighborhood Pride program works because it is community driven,” said Councilmember Ginther, Development Committee Chair. “When neighbors ban together and work as a team with the City, we are able to do so much more to make our streets cleaner and safer. Neighborhood Pride is about all of us doing our part, and when we come together to make our neighborhoods better, the entire city wins.”

In addition, Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Animal Control will partner to conduct Animal Clinics offering low cost vaccinations for dogs and cats and provide training and education on proper animal etiquette.

In Pride’s first nine years, the city toured 60 areas helping get more than 6,036 homes fixed up and brought into compliance with city codes, 1,735 streetlights repaired, 1,139 tons of bulk trash picked up, 3,800 street trees trimmed, 21,861 catch basins inspected and 5,802  fire hydrant painted, are among the many services offered. The city also provides home safety and code inspections, alley cleaning, street sweeping, inspecting utilities and storm sewers, mowing, cleaning parks and leading volunteer efforts to remove litter and graffiti.

Approximately 12,707 kids have participated in Pride Bicycle Safety Festivals and the city gave out 10,087 free bicycle safety helmets. Since 2004, 1,921 residents have graduated from the Neighborhood Safety Academies, where they learned how to better work with police officers to make their neighborhoods safer. The Neighborhood Safety Academy will hold sessions in each of the four Pride areas, teaching lessons from a menu of training options and the Neighborhood Safety Action Guide.

“I am proud of the difference that Neighborhood Pride makes in our community.  This is an important program because our residents get to know each other better and continue the momentum long after our city employees leave,” said Development Director Boyce Safford.

In addition to the neighborhood services delivered during Pride, the city also builds partnerships with area businesses, asking them to give back to the community. To date, 655 businesses have become Pride Partners, donating nearly $529,000 in goods and services. The city has also enlisted the partnership of the Cadbury Schweppes Bottling Group, Franklin County Children Services, Donatos Pizzeria, FasLube, Giant Eagle, Kroger, Nationwide Childrens Hospital, Huntington, Save A Lot, and American Red Cross during Pride weeks.

2009 Pride Area Maps are available on-line at www.columbus.gov.