The City of Boise announced Thursday that five neighborhood associations will receive a total of $683,105 through the 2027 Neighborhood Investment Awards. The grants, part of the city’s Energize Our Neighborhoods initiative, are intended to boost quality of life, strengthen neighborhood identity and improve pedestrian safety.
Vista Neighborhood receives $150,000 for a new playground
The Vista Neighborhood Association was awarded $150,000 to upgrade the playground at Hawthorne Elementary School. The Boise School District will match the city’s contribution, bringing the total investment to roughly $300,000. “It’s going to be great for our neighborhood because it creates an extra green space where there currently isn’t one,” said Mia Russell, president of the Vista Neighborhood Association. Russell noted that many families east of Vista Avenue lack easy access to safe outdoor play areas without crossing a major roadway. The new playground will be ADA accessible and will feature sensory and musical elements to serve a broader range of users.
Centennial Neighborhood gets $60,000 for signage
The Centennial Neighborhood Association will use its $60,000 award to install neighborhood‑identity signage throughout west Boise. This marks the second year in a row the group has secured city funding; last year it received more than $200,000 for improvements to the Hobble Creek Pathway, a heavily traveled corridor linking residents to schools, parks and other destinations. “What we’re proposing will benefit the entire population, not just our particular neighborhood,” said Kathy Graham, president of the Centennial Association.
Additional projects funded across the city
Other grant recipients include:
- Borah Neighborhood: a new pocket park that will provide a small, walk‑able green space for nearby residents.
- Depot Bench Neighborhood: traffic‑calming improvements near local schools, aimed at slowing vehicle speeds and enhancing child safety.
- Southeast Boise: an Open Streets event in partnership with the Boise Bicycle Project, encouraging safe, car‑free street use for cyclists and pedestrians.
City officials reported that neighborhood associations submitted roughly $1.2 million in project requests this year—almost double the amount of funding available. Boise City Council President Meredith Stead praised the process, saying, “The folks applying for these grants are the neighborhood experts. We don’t necessarily know exactly what all their needs are on the ground.”
How to apply for future awards
The city is already accepting applications for the next round of Neighborhood Investment Awards. Interested associations can find application details on the Boise city website, where they can propose projects that align with the Energize Our Neighborhoods goals of fostering community connection, improving safety and expanding accessible green space.
These investments reflect Boise’s ongoing commitment to empower local residents, strengthen family‑friendly environments and uphold the values of community stewardship that many families cherish.
Original reporting: KIVI Idaho News 6 Boise metro (local) — read the source article.
