2019 Neighborhood of the Year

AOC7 Literacy Fair in Long Beach, Calif. wins 2019 NOTY Grand Prize

Finishing in first place in the Physical Revitalization category of the annual NOTY competition is the Orchard Hills Neighborhood Association in Garland, Texas, whose program, Saturn Hills Community Garden, collaborated with a local church to revitalize an existing garden with minimal volunteers but maximum potential. Together, they formed a successful new volunteer gardeners program and created a true “community garden” that is both beautiful and sustainable.

Not only were they awarded the Grand Prize, but NUSA also awarded the first place prize in the Social Revitalization category of the NOTY competition to the Anaheim, Orange, Cherry & 7th Street Neighborhood Association in Long Beach, Calif. The AOC7 Literacy Fair distributed more than 5,000 books to local community members, providing summer reading opportunities for all families, many of which are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Also awarded during Friday’s luncheon was the first place prize in Multi- Neighborhood Partnerships, Berkley Place Neighborhood Association in Fort Worth, Texas. Silent Railroad Crossings Project is a collaboration with 5 other associations, the local business community and a variety of elected officials to gain approval and funding for 3 silent railroad crossings. The neighborhoods joined forces to cut the red tape and bring peace and quiet to the community after decades of being interrupted by excessive, loud and long train horns.

2019 NOTY award winners were announced in the following categories:

Physical Revitalization – Single Neighborhood

Second Place

Visual Impact Committee

Goleta Old Town Community Association
Goleta, California

Social Revitalization – Single Neighborhood

First Place

ACO7 Literacy Fair

Anaheim, Orange, Cherry & 7th Street Neighborhood Association
Long Beach, California

Third Place

Whitely Community Safety Project

Whitely Community Council
Muncie, Indiana

Finalist

Palm Springs Black History Parade & Fair

Palm Springs Black History Council
Palm Springs, California

Multi-Neighborhood Partnerships

First Place

Silent Railroad Crossings Project

Berkley Place Neighborhood Association
Fort Worth, Texas

Third Place

Historic Fairmont 5K Run

Fairmont Neighborhood Association
Fort Worth, Texas