Mini-Grant Winners Plan Sculpture, Paddle Sports, and Safety Improvements

Magdalene Shores will be gathering and paddling while Carrollwood Village brings music to residents' ears. These two communities, along with 15 others, have been awarded 2024 Neighborhood Mini-Grants (for up to $5,000 to enhance their neighborhoods.

Created to help foster healthy, safe, and engaged neighborhoods that strengthen the community, Neighborhood Mini-Grants have funded dozens of enhancement projects around Hillsborough County for the past 26 years. The awards are open to neighborhood, civic, condominium, and homeowner associations within Hillsborough County, including the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City. Interested applicants must also be in the Neighborhood Roster. Applications are submitted for one of three categories:

• Healthy Neighborhood: Fostering a healthy community through conservation, environmental stewardship, or healthy lifestyles. Projects could include a community cleanup, tree planting, healthy cooking demonstrations, or Zen garden creation.
• Safe Neighborhood: Preparing residents with knowledge and tools that teach them how to prevent, confront, and/or respond to situations that threaten the safety of the community. Swim safety, stranger danger, anti-bullying, or creating disaster kits for the community are all examples of possible projects.
• Engaged Neighborhood: Unique projects that engage and bring neighbors together that could include neighborhood cleanups, events that connect community members, or communications that educate residents about local happenings, services, or projects.

Magdalene Shores gather and paddle

Checking off all the project categories - healthy, safe, and engaged - is the Magdalene Shores neighborhood project. Making good use out of a lightning-struck grandfather live oak tree, the wood will be harvested for a community campfire in the location where the tree currently stands, while protecting a nearby pavilion from being damaged by the ailing tree. In addition to this tree-mendous undertaking, Magdalene Shores also plans to install a motorless watercraft storage rack to increase paddle watersport exercise among residents. This project aims to bring the community together to accomplish these tasks while helping with the neighborhood transition to a new generation of residents with young families.

Carrollwood Village blends sculpture and song

With plans to add sculptural musical flowers to an existing greenspace, the Carrollwood Village Homeowners Association is looking to enhance what is already a community gathering place. Noting that access to greenspace is crucial for healthy physical and mental well-being, this visual enhancement will foster a space for children young and old to gather, connect, and build relationships.

Safety first at Westshore Townhomes

Seeing an increase in trespassing, illegal dumping, and vandalism, Westshore Townhomes is taking action by upping neighborhood security measures. Extensive damage to community locks, gates, fencing, and the dumpster area require replacement locks or repair, installation of solar uplighting in dark spots on the property, new cameras to monitor the pool and dumpster area, and planting bushes to cover exposed wires, electrical boxes, irrigation boxes, and fire meters. These measures will help secure this neighborhood and keep its residents safe.

Additional 2024 Neighborhood Mini-Grant recipients:

• Brooker Reserve Homeowners Association: Community Hub with message board, library box, lighting, and landscaping
• Chardonnay (Carrollwood): Entranceway lighting
• Durant Oaks Property Owners Association, Inc.: Front entrance signage
• Fish Hawk Trails Homeowners Association: Community digital message board
• Forest Hills Neighborhood Association: Community educational event
• Gray Gables Neighborhood Association: Purchase of solar pathway lighting, neighborhood signs, and doggy bag stations
• Laurel Vista Homeowners Association, Inc.: Community gathering pavilion
• Mira Lago West Homeowners Association: Doggy bag stations and patriotic flagpole
• River Chase of Tampa Homeowners Association: Playground sidewalk connection and park bench installation
• Sheldon West Condominium Owner's Association: Clubhouse lighting and furniture
• Southfork III Community Association: Installation of exercise equipment in existing greenspace
• Strawberry Ridge Homeowners Association: Equipment to livestream and record events and presentations
• V.M. Ybor Neighborhood Association and Crimewatch: Video documentary project
• Wellswood Civic Association: Purchase of tables and chairs for community events

The Neighborhood Mini-Grant program is managed by Hillsborough County Neighborhood Relations. The Office helps residents develop neighborhood associations, awards grants to neighborhood groups, and holds an annual Neighborhood Expo and awards event.