District 3 brainstorms community cleanup and managed‑grant projects including benches, murals and block‑level beautification

Neighborhood board members opened a brainstorming session on uses of the Provo City managed grant, which requires the neighborhood to contribute volunteer service hours to receive matching funds. Board members and residents suggested projects intended to improve visibility from public streets and to be achievable within the matching grant framework.

Suggestions included installing additional benches along Delta Gateway Park and the river trail, placing built‑in game/table seating by the observation tower, improving small roadside parcels and park strips (including some Rocky Mountain Power easement areas), murals or authorized graffiti walls along the river trail or underpasses, and a block‑by‑block community paint/beautification effort in an older Fort Utah neighborhood to leverage volunteer labor and donated trees. A past neighborhood example highlighted was a “paint your heart out” volunteer model: the grant buys supplies and neighbors provide labor and service hours.

Board members noted the grant requires a plan showing how service hours will be earned (volunteer lists or organized events) and that the neighborhood can propose projects that leverage volunteer time to maximize the dollar impact. Staff said matching grant money has limits (examples cited: benches or small amenity purchases) but can be paired with volunteer labor and partner organizations to extend impact.

Residents and board members were advised to follow up with the neighborhood board to compile candidate projects, identify volunteer partners and provide details (locations, cost estimates, and intended volunteer hours) so staff can submit formal requests to the city.