Neighborhood organizations held cleanups, revitalized amenities, and rallied residents
The winners of this year's Neighborhood Awards, which are held annually to highlight neighborhood organizations that foster healthy, safe, and engaged neighborhoods, demonstrated exceptional commitment to strengthening their communities. These award winners are all semifinalists for the Hillsborough County 2026 Neighborhood of the Year Award (NOTY), which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Healthy neighborhood awardee
Bay Port Colony Property Owners, Inc. hosted two major cleanup events that brought neighbors together while significantly improving the community. In May 2026, the group conducted a community-wide "Trash Bash" event (funded by the Hillsborough County Community Cleanup Program), where residents could dispose of large household items, yard debris, unwanted electronics, and items to donate. In the same month, a Waterways Cleanup event was held, and 100 volunteers arrived by kayak, boat, and on foot to assist in clearing the neighborhood's lakes, ponds, and parks of trash and lingering storm debris. Together, these events reduced storm hazards, protected wildlife areas, diverted materials from landfills, and strengthened neighborhood relationships across Bay Port.
Safe neighborhood awardee
Buckhorn Groves Homeowners Association, Inc. had a team of 15 volunteers add benches, a table, and additional seating around its play areas so parents can comfortably supervise their children. Deteriorated boards on the existing benches were replaced to improve the gathering space for older kids, and a new garbage can was installed at the play area entrance to encourage visitors to keep the park clean.
Engaged neighborhood awardee
Carrollwood Village HOA, Inc. Phase I, II, and III hosted its fourth annual cleanup event, which brought big energy and even bigger results. With help from the Hillsborough County Community Cleanup Program, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, and Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, neighbors tackled recycling, shredding, and a new home-pickup service for hard-to-haul items. Thanks to 114 volunteers, the community got a fresh, feel-good makeover.
Honorable mentions
In addition to this year's award winners, several other groups were recognized with honorable mentions for their significant efforts to strengthen their neighborhoods and make a positive impact in their communities. These include:
- Caloosa Point II HOA for its "Flow Forward" upgrade to the community's 30-year-old irrigation system to a more reliable, energy-efficient system.
- Carrollton Lakes HOA for its community engagement by creating a communication system for residents. The HOA launched a centralized website, President's Corner, expanded social media, and new homeowner welcome program.
- Hawks Point West HOA for its "Film and Float" event, where the neighborhood held a movie night at the community pool.
- Lumsden Reserves Townhomes for its "Petals, Pride & People Power" beautification project, where they planted flowers to transform unused common areas into vibrant, welcoming spaces and removed an aging gazebo and replaced it with new seating areas.
- Oak Bridge Run Condominium for its renewal project, reviving the community through a cleanup and restoring the community pond.
- Valrico Oaks HOA for its "Green & Clean" project, which used Neighborhood Mini-Grant funding for entrance and fence‑line improvements. Neighbors picked up trash, cleared debris, trimmed trees, and removed dead plants and bushes. Volunteers also repaired damaged landscape lighting, creating a cleaner, safer, and more attractive environment for walkers and drivers.
Hillsborough County's Neighborhood Relations team helps support and strengthen neighborhoods through education and informational programs and initiatives, including the Neighborhood Awards program. To learn more about Neighborhood Relations, including how to register or validate your organization on the Neighborhood Listing, visit HCFL.gov/Neighborhoods.