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The NSCNA Beautification Committee is working on a grant proposal to submit to the City of Austin’s Urban Forest Grant Program. We’re requesting money to purchase and plant trees to mitigate our neighborhood’s urban heat island effect, which, bounded as we are by commercial development and freeways, is likely to be considerable. We’re also asking for money to hire a certified arborist to assess where it’ll be more effective to plan the trees.
For additional information on this grant program, including grant restrictions on where the trees can be planted, visit the city’s Urban Forest Grant Program web page.
The Beautification Committee proposal will be presented to the association membership at our September 7 General Meeting. Here is a review draft of the grant application. If you have any questions on the proposal or want to participate in the project, please contact the Beautification Committee at beautification@nscna.org.
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Currently NSCNA has 136 member households and your membership will help meet the goal of 150 in 2010. Soon you will receive a copy of the latest edition of the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood News. The membership form is on the back page of the newsletter. Please take time to complete the form and send it with $15 to the NSCNA address on the form. You are eligible for membership if you live within Mopac Expressway on the west, Research Blvd. on the north, Burnet Road on the east, and Anderson Lane on the south.
Inside the newsletter, you will find pictures of the fun had by all at the Independence Day Celebration at Pillow Playground. You will also see the results of the recent membership survey and articles about what the association is working on this year related to safety, National Night Out, development, and sidewalk repair. These issues scored as high priorities by NSCNA members who completed the membership survey.
Won’t you please support the neighborhood association and the outstanding business owners who advertise in our newsletter? Thank you from the Membership Committee.
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Just a little reminder: The first day of school is Monday, August 23 and soon our neighborhood will be buzzing with students, parents and teachers.
Austin Safe Routes to School is a City of Austin-sponsored program designed to improve safety and encourage more kids to walk and bike to school. Their website offers tips for students, parents, drivers and educators. Please click here for helpful tips and resources.
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Date: Tuesday, October 5
Time: 6 – 9 pm
Location: Throughout our neighborhoodNSCNA would like to encourage neighbors to host National Night Out block parties this year. We’d like to tell you what NNO is and how to participate. If you decide to hold a block party, please let us know and we’ll compile a map of neighborhood events.
National Night Out is in its 27th year. It’s a program designed to “promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.” Much of the country observes NNO in August, but since that’s a trifle warm for Texas, our state has designated October as a more appropriate time for these outdoor community events.
Anyone can host a NNO event. The Austin Police Department has details about what you can do that evening, whether it’s a get-together with some refreshments, a cookout or a neighborhood walk. APD has an application you can fill out to host an event.
(You can request that safety personnel visit your event, but last year APD had over 55 requests in our district, with less than five available officers to cover. That averages to under 16 minutes per party – less travel time!)
NNO block parties are a great way to visit with your immediate neighbors, and something that neighbors tend to enjoy. Plus, they can be low-key affairs that aren’t a lot of work. All you need to do is supply some drinks, maybe a few snacks, and invite your neighbors to drop in.
An NNO block party is one of the best ways to help keep your street safe. We hope you’ll plan to participate in NNO this year. Wouldn’t it be great to have a party on every block in North Shoal Creek?
How to Participate
First, submit the request form to APD if you wish to officially register your block party. The advantage of registration is that you receive NNO materials, plus you can request a visit from safety personnel. (But see our note above about limitations on visits.) Registration deadline is September 15.
Second, please let NSCNA know. We’ll compile a map of block parties so neighbors can find out if there’s a party near them. Contact Andreas Guenin at nightout@nscna.org or 512-323-2613.
Finally, invite the neighbors on your block. We recommend that you distribute a flyer or invitation directly to your neighbors. You may want to request neighbors bring snacks or lawn chairs.
Let Andreas know if you have any questions or need assistance.
