Proud Places Project

Proud Places Project is a program to strengthen investment in city neighborhoods through citizen engagement, beautification, and community stewardship. The goal of the program is to increase neighbor participation in making streetscape and property improvements while demonstrating the City's commitment to fostering a network of community care and neighborhood pride.

The project is a key component of the Mayor's Resurgent Neighborhoods Initiative (RNI), a citywide housing and business growth plan that aligns neighborhood investment planning and stakeholder engagement at a “block-level” in all four quadrants within the city. Proud Places identifies neighborhood needs within an RNI area, engages existing community organizations and/or forms new coalitions, and facilitates monthly meetings and events to address those needs. Coordinated efforts include improving greenspace, addressing deteriorating properties through code enforcement intervention and vacant property attention, and connecting residents to needed human resources.

Campaigns

Butternut

The first campaign of the program is along the Butternut Street Corridor and launched in October 2023. To date, neighbors have participated in over a dozen planning meetings, two cleanups, and two community block parties. For the next steps in the campaign, community leaders will establish the area as an Adopt-a-Block location and will continue to meet about future improvements to the corridor, including tree plantings in the fall and potential lighting enhancements.

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Focus Area

The focus area is along the Butternut Street Corridor from Lodi to Carbon Streets. The area is a vibrant neighborhood with active businesses, the White Branch Library, and Franklin Elementary School. Despite all these assets, there are significant challenges that longstanding residents have voiced their concerns about including housing conditions, safety, substance abuse, and vacancy along the corridor. The City and neighborhood residents are working together to explore ways to improve neighborhood conditions. 

Adopt-a-Block

Following each campaign, the leading community organization will establish the areas as an Adopt-a-Block location. The City of Syracuse Adopt-a-Block program makes city beautification a yearlong, citywide effort. Individuals, organizations, schools, and businesses will volunteer to take responsibility for at least two city blocks, committing to a monthly cleanup of a designated area and “on the spot” litter pickup, as necessary. To learn more about Syracuse Adopt-a-Block, Click Here.