When many people think of NeighborWorks Pocatello, they’re most likely going to recall the affordable housing opportunities the organization provides.

This includes construction of new single-family homes in centrally located Pocatello neighborhoods (which is up to over 200 now), development of Park Meadows Senior Apartments on South 5th Avenue, the creation of the Bonneville Commons subdivision at the site of the former Bonneville Elementary School, or they might know a friend or family member who has been impacted by one of our owner-occupied rehab grant or loan programs.

We’ve truly changed people’s lives for the better with our homeownership and home preservation programs. Equally impressive is the fact that our new construction efforts have added over $42 million to the local tax base according to a recent study the organization conducted.

NeighborWorks is truly an important economic force in Pocatello and Southeast Idaho.

A big piece of NeighborWorks Pocatello’s mission involves housing, however, just as important is the focus we place on community building and engagement.

NeighborWorks Pocatello will do its best to find the resources to construct and fix up the community’s older housing stock, but our neighborhoods will never reach their full potential or become self-sufficient without dedicated grassroots support and involvement from residents within. Residents who care about where they live become more involved in volunteer activities, watch out for one another, and work their very best to make their neighborhoods become neighborhoods of choice.

As such, NeighborWorks Pocatello devotes a large amount of its resources into promoting and supporting vibrant resident associations within the heart of Pocatello, including the Neighborhoods of Historic Downtown, Bonneville, Lewis & Clark, Alameda, Mountain View, and the Historic University Neighborhoods. The impact our neighborhood associations have been making of late is impressive.

One significant example is the 4th Annual Historic Home Tour, which is slated to take place on Saturday, Sept. 13. All six neighborhood associations have joined forces to put on this event, with proceeds from ticket sales ($20 each) benefiting neighborhood beautification projects and social events. Last year the event raised nearly $10,000.

Those taking part will have the opportunity to visit 10 historic locations all concentrated in the Historic Downtown Neighborhood. Participants can also listen in on “history talks” along the way where local experts will address educational topics such as older architectural styles and history and formation of our legacy neighborhoods.

This important event would not be possible without the support and determination of residents from all six of these neighborhood associations.

Another important annual event, which is facilitated by the Bonneville Neighborhood Association, is the Lasting Legacy Festival, which pays homage to Pocatello’s “Triangle Neighborhood.” The Triangle was Pocatello’s segregated neighborhood and bound by East Oak Street, Pocatello Avenue and East Center Street (the shape of a triangle on a Pocatello city map).

The primary population that made up the Triangle Neighborhood included African Americans, Greeks, Italians, Hispanics and several other ethnic groups — many of which came to Pocatello to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. In the early and mid-20th century, the Triangle Neighborhood was Idaho’s most culturally diverse. In 2010, NeighborWorks Pocatello assisted a group of descendants from the neighborhood as well as community leaders to construct the Lasting Legacy Monument, which is located on the corner of North 3rd and East Lander and is worth the visit.

This year’s Lasting Legacy Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Purce Park (formerly Bonneville Community Park), located in the front of the Senior Activity Center at N. 6th and E. Lewis.

Speaking of Purce Park, NeighborWorks Pocatello and the Bonneville Neighborhood Association joined forces last year to secure funding from Wells Fargo and the Ifft Foundation to replace aging playground equipment, benches and tables at that location. Two new bocce ball courts have been added to the park. A ribbon cutting ceremony and official renaming from Bonneville Community Park to Purce Park is scheduled for July 3 at noon.

Longtime community activist Idaho Purce and several of her family members will be in attendance. Idaho Purce, as well as her late husband John Purce, served several years on NeighborWorks Pocatello’s Board of Directors. We are pleased with helping make the new and improved Purce Park a reality.

Caldwell Park is another park in the community that’s been improved and upgraded thanks to NeighborWorks Pocatello and important partners such as the Historic University Neighborhood (formerly College Neighborhood). The “renaissance” of Caldwell Park began with the construction of the NeighborWorks Pavilion in 2014. Since that time the University Neighborhood has received grant support from the Ifft Foundation for Christmas lighting at the park during the holiday season and more recently an additional Ifft grant to upgrade the landscaping surrounding the pavilion.

The upgrades were completed this past month and it’s beautiful. What used to be a relatively quiet park without many amenities, or a covered shelter, is now a thriving gathering spot and home to several annual community events, family reunions, birthday parties and NeighborWorks Pocatello’s Annual Pay-it-Forward Barbeque and potted plant giveaway.

There are many other resident-led projects I could speak of. This is only a handful. We are lucky to live in a community like Pocatello where people are eager to roll up their sleeves and pitch in to make it a better place.

Safe, decent and affordable housing for the community is important to our success, but so is leadership, engagement and involvement of our residents. Enhanced resident involvement and optimism will make our community thrive.