ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk preached the power of “resident-led” projects Thursday evening as city officials handed out “mini grants” at Franklin Park.
Five groups will get grants of $500 to $5,000 from the city’s Love Your Block program, which is funded by Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University.
Grant winners include Ripple Church’s community garden in the park, The Holy District’s project to transform an overgrown area into a “pocket park” and community cleanup efforts.
“We are going to celebrate the power of small, resident-led projects to spark big change in neighborhoods like this.”Mayor Matt Tuerk
And West Park Civic Association plans to transform another part of West Park after building a pollinator garden there for the first phase of its Birds, Bees and Blooms project.
“We’re here to recognize and celebrate the power of resident-led change,” Tuerk said before awardees were announced.
“We are going to celebrate the power of small, resident-led projects to spark big change in neighborhoods like this.”
Porch makeovers
The mayor also announced the launch of a pilot program to spur community engagement.
“What we want to do is facilitate these conversations in our neighborhoods."Mayor Matt Tuerk
The Porch Makeover Program is “a very, very simple idea” — helping residents make their porches beautiful — that will help the city “build community block by block,” Tuerk said.
Anyone who wins a porch-makeover mini grant must hold a porch party a which neighbors can talk about how to improve their space, he said.
“What we want to do is facilitate these conversations in our neighborhoods,” Tuerk said.
The program is open for residents who live between 12th and 15th streets and between Linden and Gordon streets.
Grant recipients
Grant recipients and the work planned are:
Franklin Park Community Garden — Ripple Church
Ripple Church and neighborhood youth have cultivated the community teaching garden since 2013, growing vegetables and herbs that celebrate the cultures of the community. With Love Your Block support, the team will expand composting education, repair fencing, install benches and revamp their garden signage to support ongoing engagement and beautification.
Garden City Green Space Revitalization — The Holy District | Center City
The project transforms an overgrown greenspace on Liberty Street into a safe, accessible and welcoming pocket park. Plans include installing fencing, leveling the ground, landscaping pathways, and creating an accessible flower garden to encourage neighborhood pride, youth recreation, and intergenerational connection. This phase lays the foundation for long-term programming that promotes health, wellness, and community bonding.
Pick and Play — Mark Woods | Franklin Park
Pick and Play is a high-energy, youth-centered community cleanup day launching from Franklin Park. With music, food, and friendly competitions, this project will encourage neighborhood participation through team-led litter pickup and beautification efforts across a five-block area. With future support, the project aims to evolve into a recurring volunteer-led activation that fosters long-term pride and presence in public spaces.
The Village Community Block on Linden — Queen City Realty & Ripple Community Inc. | Center City
The project focuses on cooling and beautifying the south-facing 1300 block of Linden Street. In partnership with Promise Neighborhoods, volunteers will help install new shade trees, evaluate opportunities for new tree beds, and install a community bike rack to serve pedestrians and visitors. Trash receptacles will be relocated to reduce litter and improve the streetscape. The improvements aim to make the block more sustainable and welcoming for both residents and the public.
Birds, Bees, and Blooms: Phase 2 — West Park Civic Association | West Park
Building on a successful pollinator garden on the north side of the West Park Bandshell, this project will transform the cleared southern garden bed into a thriving teaching space. Volunteers, students, and community partners will plant native pollinator species and offer environmental education experiences for residents of all ages. The Love Your Block grant will support soil preparation, planting materials, and refreshments for volunteers, with the goal of deepening community stewardship and sustainability in the historic urban green space.
