Chautauqua Park Neighborhood Association

CPNA awarded Polk County Community Betterment Grant

Jul 30, 2001

In May, the Chautauqua Park Neighborhood Association was awarded a $2500 Community Betterment Grant from the Polk County Board of Supervisors. The award followed the association?’s application for funding to support activities during a proposed historic walking tour of the neighborhood. While time did not permit adequate planning for the walking tour this year, the neighborhood still retains the fund and intends to use them for an alternate purpose.
Several proposals for use of the funds have been presented by the Polk County Scholars and members of the CPNA board based on needs and interests identified in the neighborhood survey conducted this spring. Proposed uses of the funds include the following, presented in a report by the Polk County scholars:
 Use the grant award to pay, in part, for four projects: playground equipment, benches or other beautification around the gazebo area, placement of signs reading ?“Children Playing?” in strategic locations, development of written or oral history booklet or walking tour.
 Use the total grant amount to purchase playground equipment. Work with personnel at Des Moines Public Schools central administration office to arrange possible placement of equipment in schoolyard.
 Use the total grant amount to finance beautification efforts throughout the neighborhood, including benches for the gazebo area, tuckpointing of the pillars and clean up at the 13th Street entrance.
(If you would like to view a copy of the full report presented by the scholars, please call 280-6078.) Please note, the proposals listed above are suggestions only. The board is open to consideration of any and all ideas offered by neighbors. A special general meeting will be held August 6, 2001, at 7 p.m. at Casady School to discuss the proposals and determine the best solution for use of the funds. Please bring your ideas!