The City of Eugene announced Tuesday that it will receive a $70,000 grant from the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. The funding, part of the Center’s “Love Your Block” program, is earmarked for community‑led projects in the Bethel and Trainsong neighborhoods, including clearing vacant lots and transforming underused public spaces.
Grant details and support
Mayor Kaarin Knudson highlighted the award in a news release on Sept. 29, saying the grant represents a “remarkable support” for the city’s ongoing efforts to make Bethel and Trainsong safer and more connected. In addition to the cash award, the grant provides a fellowship to assist local organizers and two years of technical assistance from the Bloomberg Center.
Eugene is one of 25 cities nationwide selected for the initiative, which has already helped remove more than 7 million pounds of trash and 550,000 square feet of graffiti across participating communities. Those clean‑up efforts have often been followed by resident‑driven enhancements such as public art installations.
Local involvement and next steps
The Active Bethel Community and Trainsong Neighbors neighborhood associations submitted letters of support for the application prepared by the city’s Office of Equity & Community Engagement. The grant aligns with the Bethel Area Neighborhood Plan, which aims to create a safer, more walkable environment for families and longtime residents.
Fabio Andrade, manager of the Office of Equity & Community Engagement, noted that the city has not yet identified specific lots or blocks that will receive the grant’s funding. He added that it remains unclear whether the project will intersect with the ongoing cleanup of chemically contaminated soil at Trainsong Park.
“Projects will be selected later and in alignment with the neighborhood planning process for the Bethel area, which includes Bethel and Trainsong plus parts of West Eugene and the Industrial Corridor,” Andrade told Lookout Eugene‑Springfield. The city is awaiting further guidance from the Bloomberg Center before recruiting a fellow and establishing a formal project‑selection process.
Community impact
Neighborhood leaders see the grant as an opportunity to address long‑standing concerns about vacant properties that can attract crime and diminish neighborhood pride. By turning these spaces into community gardens, playgrounds, or art venues, residents hope to foster stronger social ties and improve overall quality of life.
Mayor Knudson emphasized that the grant reinforces Eugene’s broader commitment to equity and community empowerment. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect Eugene with the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation in this way and to continue to learn from their work,” she said.
The city plans to hold public meetings later this fall to gather input on potential projects and ensure that the grant’s benefits are distributed equitably across both neighborhoods.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
