BNA activities for 2022 continue to grow. In 2022, we held 10 general membership meetings with speakers, great Q&A sessions with our PAR officer, and pot luck dinners. Zone 1 City Councilwoman Monica Horton graciously came to several of our meetings, and her insights have been most helpful to our residents. With Monica, we have a great advocate on City Council.
Our annual neighborhood cleanup was held in June with over 50 households served, tons of refuse removed, and many curb-side pickups. Our annual neighborhood-wide yard sale was held in July, and while temperatures were sweltering that day, a great many participants reported having had good sales. We conducted a cleanup in L.A. Wise Park, and recently conducted a needs survey of our residents leading to a new proposal for the Neighborhood Works Grant Program to be submitted in early January.
Our work with NAC continued with major efforts devoted to the Chronic Nuisance Properties Task Force. We look forward to seeing how the many recommendations from the group may be implemented by the City.
The year was capped off by our annual Christmas dinner.
Many of these activities were greatly enhanced by our continuing partnership with the staff and residents of Eden Village 2. In addition, we want to thank Walmart Neighborhood Market and Little Caesar’s Pizza for generous food donations for some of our events.
L.A. Wise Park multi-Court construction nears completion
Thanks to a Neighborhood Works grant from the City of Springfield, work began to construct a new multi-sport court in the park. This project is the centerpiece of a proposal that BNA submitted to this successful and important funding program. In the past, the program was the source of funds for the pavilion, picnic tables and benches in the park, and in 2023, will feature major intersection and sidewalk improvements at the corner of Nichols and Hillcrest.
2023 board
Many thanks to each of our officers and board members from past years. Our officers for 2023 are:
President: Rob Sorbo
Vice President: Vickie Grinde
Secretary: Pete Radecki
Treasurer: Sheila Radecki
Board Members: Louise Buck, Patty Goss and Cherie Croney.
Pictured: Goss (front), (left to right): Croney, Sheila Radecki, Sorbo, Buck, Pete Radecki, Grinde.
We welcome Cherie Croney to our board for the first time. Among her many duties, she manages the Eden Village 2 property for The Gathering Tree. She has been a great help for us this past year and we expect our relationship with the residents and staff of EV2 to continue to flourish.