SLC.gov

Nov. 10, 2025

Neighbors in Salt Lake City’s Westside and Ballpark neighborhoods have more opportunities to bring their ideas for community pride to life. The City’s Love Your Block program is fueling additional resident-driven, volunteer-led projects for early 2026; applications for mini-grants are open through November 30.

“Salt Lake City is a better place because of our residents’ ideas,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “I know Westside and Ballpark neighbors care deeply about our community and are putting that care into action with a little help from Love Your Block.”

Residents, businesses, and organizations can apply for mini-grants up to $2,000 to support ideas such as community tool sheds, public art, vacant lot activation, playground repairs, basic exterior home repairs, cleanups, and placemaking signage. These ideas need to be implemented between February through May 2026.

“Love Your Block gives residents the tools and support to transform their own communities, proving that lasting change starts right outside our front doors,” said Ghinwa Alsalman, Strategic Outreach and Programs Manager.

Forty-three projects have been funded and completed through Love Your Block since 2022. In 2025, 20 projects were awarded and completed with the help of 417 volunteers. Among those projects awarded, Glendale Middle School dedicated an anti-violence mural, after collaboration with students and families, to foster a sense of ownership and connection. 

A Poplar Grove resident led a vacant lot clean-up on Emery St. that fosters a safe and clean route for Franklin Elementary and East High School students. Examples of other projects funded in 2025 include: 

• Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake repainted its building façade, made safety enhancements, and landscaping upgrades.
• Nellie Jack Park Revamp aims to add playful features like a play wall and a sandbox to this community pocket park.
• Little Free Art Galleries installed a creative version of “Little Free Book Library” along Rose Park neighborhoods to share and exchange art, including paintings, poetry, and small crafts.

“To me, Love Your Block means connecting with my community and giving back,” said Jamiee Fredrick, a Nellie Jack Park grantee. “As a shy introvert, it’s really pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me meet some amazing people who share my passion for making neighborhoods better places. I’m working to revive a little park I used to visit with my grandma as a kid, and being able to give back by creating a space where new generations can play and make memories means so much to me.”

Potential projects are evaluated for their community impact and sustainability, from how they’ll bring neighbors together to how they transform vacant or deteriorating spaces. The City encourages creativity and collaboration. Eligible neighborhoods in Salt Lake City include Glendale, Poplar Grove, Fairpark, Rose Park, Westpointe, Jordan Meadows, Guadalupe and Ballpark.

Applications close on November 30, 2025, and are available in both English and Spanish. For more information, including a map of all past and current projects, visit www.slc.gov/loveyourblock/.