Annual event seen as a way to sustain a vibrant community
More than 300 Tempe residents shared in games, live music—and apparently lots of fun—at Kiwanis Park as part of the city’s third annual Neighborhood Celebration. Seventeen of those celebrants, along with local businesses, were recognized for being good neighbors, impacting the community’s arts and culture initiatives, contributing to sustainability and resilience, conserving water and more.
Credit for developing the event went to the city’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission.
Awards and their recipients were:
• Neighborhood awards — Broadmor Bike Bus, Cranksgiving, Oasis Lake, Elie Merheb, Lane Carraway, Jeff Caslake, Sid Frede and Tempe Preparatory Academy National Honor Society club
• Arts and Culture —Tony Duncan, Darlene Justus, Tempe Artists Guild, Farmer Wilson and Kim DeMeritt
• Sustainability Achievement — Ana Aguilar
• Water Wise Landscape of the Year — Steve Bannochie
• Historic Preservation — Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation
• Dolores Huerta Scholarship —Emma Ellexson. Neighborhood Advisory Commission Chair Joel Stern said the event provided an example of accomplishments that other parts of the city could consider for their own pursuit as future endeavors.
“(This event) embodies what we should try and accomplish in our individual neighborhoods,” he said. “When we come together to celebrate our neighbors in harmony, accompanied by food, music and friendship, neighborhoods can create a strong and thriving community.”
