Erie neighbors get help cleaning up and improving their properties, one block at a time
Patricia Poston, sitting on one of her sturdy wooden benches, has a nice view of her neighbors in the 900 block of East Ninth Street.
"Everybody says my front porch is cozy," Poston, 71, said.
Her large covered porch now invites more company, after a team from the City of Erie's "Love Your Block" program cleaned and painted it a deep burgundy. They also took down an old fence in the backyard, removed old tires and added a porch-railing for Poston, who has difficulty with balance after a foot injury.
According to their website, Love Your Block is a Cities of Service grant program that brings city leaders and residents together to build stronger neighborhoods, one block at a time. Since 2009, Cities of Service has helped nearly 50 cities implement Love Your Block through the program. Erie is awarding mini-grants to residents and community partners to reduce blight and spur neighborhood-driven change, with volunteers encouraged to help their neighbors.
Poston said she found a flier from the city in her doorway, describing the program and a $600 grant. She even encouraged 13 neighbors to apply for the grants, going door-to-door and standing by as they signed paperwork which she then delivered to City Hall.
"I know what it's like to beautify things, it helps all of our property values," she added.
"My neighbor next door is 88 and she had some plantings put in. We all water them for her if she needs it. Some others were so excited for the help, they couldn't wait. We all watch out for each other."
For more information, visit cityof.erie.pa.us/loveyourblock.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie, PA, neighbors get help cleaning up, improving their properties
