The Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) provides Designated Neighborhoods with professional planning assistance that leads to the creation of a neighborhood plan. The Plan becomes an amendment to the City's comprehensive land use plan. The plan will address land use concerns, housing issues, public infrastructure needs, commercial development and other neighborhood concerns.

Once the public infrastructure needs are identified, they are prioritized for inclusion the City's Capital Improvement Budget through the Neighborhood Infrastructure Rehabilitation Program. Designated Neighborhoods are also eligible for Neighborhood Finance Corporation programs. Inclusion in the NRP gives a neighborhood the opportunity to identify and prioritize the neighborhood's needs, and the opportunity to partner with all City departments to implement their plan.

In making their recommendation, the Staff commented that "The neighborhood is a good match for the NRP. Following in the footsteps of Greenwood Historic neighborhood, Waterbury should be a relative straight forward plan that addresses infrastructure, housing and land use issues because many of the special projects have already been completed such as the Waterbury Garden and the extension of the Walnut Creek Trail into the neighborhood. The neighborhood has clearly demonstrated that it has the capacity to undertake a successful planning and implementation process through the eagerness it has demonstrated throughout the neighborhood selection process and the successful completion of several complicated projects such as the Waterbury Garden and the Holiday Home Tour."

On Wed. May 17 5:30 pm we need as many neighbors as possible to attend a 30 minute meeting to support our neighborhood application to become a Des Moines designated neighborhood. The meeting will be held in the St. Etienne Room located in basement the Armory which is located at 602 Roberty D Ray Drive (East 1st and Des Moines Streets). Parking is available on the street or in a lot North of the building.

If we are selected, the Waterbury Neighborhood Association will have a City Planner available to us to create a long range plan. This will give us priority by the City in addressing the infrastructure needs of the neighborhood, including street and curb updates, review of planning and zoning issues, deer, green space etc. The WNA Board has chosen to include our towering oak trees as part of our infrastructure.

We are in a "competition" with other neighborhood who needs are much like ours. We have been advised that to give us any advantage at all, we need to have a large group of neighbors show up in support at this meeting. We had to meet other criteria also, and have a strong track record in those areas thanks to the founders of WNA over 10 years ago.

We can guarantee that your time commitment is no more that 30 minutes! We are second on the agenda, and will have seven minutes to speak, and will answer questions from the NRB Board for eight minutes!

The WNA truly needs everyones support on this opportunity that is only available every five years! ALL we need on Wed. at 5:30pm is your attendance. Thanks for your time and your support!