Atwater Village News - blog

Best wishes to the L.A. Department of Public Works / Community Beautification Grant for reaching their 10 year mark of helping make LA greener, cleaner, happier and better.  Atwater Village, thru Friends of Atwater Village spearheaded community projects, has received a total of 8 beautification grants.

by Sandra Caravella

It was the year 2000

And a few understood

There were things we should do

To beautify the hood

We formed a non- profit

Let’s call it FAV

And started to plan

What projects to have

Now ideas were plentiful

And poured out with no end

But where to start, how to start

And just where to begin.

Money the road block

Without it we can’t

Then Netty said, “I have this app

For a city funded grant”

Neighborhood Matching Funds sounds good

A dollar for dollar source

But fill out forms and write a grant

Can we do it? Yes of course

Grant #1 was a great success

A mural replaces tagging

Neighbors helped and kids came out

To volunteer, no lagging

We scrapped, we primed we painted

To add to our creation

And when the mural reached its end

Made time for celebration

Wow we did it

Let’s try once again

Then another grant funded

And again and again

There have been rough spots

Along the way

Months and months for permits

Not another delay…

You must add insurance

There are more forms to sign

Meetings to make

Do we really have time?

Flower pots

Trash cans, parkway,

Murals and gate

We have now proudly reached project # 8

Thanks Board of Public Works

You had a fabulous plan

To use city funds

A great helping hand

Whether called NMF

Or CB Grant

Without it our dreams

Would not had a chance

The city shines brighter

Because of CB

As we send our wishes

Happy Anniversary