Riverside neighborhood programs recognized

Riverside has received two first-place awards for two of its neighborhood programs.

The city won for Neighbor Fest, a community development training program made to look like a street fair, according to a statement on the city’s website.

Booths with activities urged residents to identify the assets and resources within their neighborhoods –  and in themselves – that can be utilized to improve the community.

Riverside also won for the Small Sparks Neighborhood Matching Grant program, which provides cash to match community contributions of volunteer labor, donated professional services or materials.

The awards were given out by The Neighborhoods USA Best Neighborhood Program, which recognizes outstanding programs implemented to improve neighborhoods by a governmental entity, business, or corporation.