Love Your Block Mini-Grants to Inspire Neighborhood Renewal
Published on April 22, 2025
The Whispering Pines neighborhood will soon be a hub of activity -- including projects to beautify and revitalize yards, home exteriors and community spaces -- with the award of nearly $20,000 in Love Your Block mini-grants to 19 recipients.
The City of Port St. Lucie announced today the first round of mini-grant winners for the Love Your Block program, a resident-led initiative focused on revitalizing neighborhoods through small-scale projects that create lasting community impact. The City of Port St. Lucie received 32 applications from dedicated residents, businesses and community groups proposing creative solutions to address local challenges and will work together with city government to improve neighborhoods and public spaces.
The Love Your Block program, powered by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins, brings city leaders and residents together to build stronger neighborhoods, one block at a time. The 19 selected projects within the Whispering Pines neighborhood reflect a strong commitment to community pride, neighborhood beautification, and civic engagement, aligning with the City’s Strategic Plan, emphasizing neighborhood engagement to build a Smart and Connected City.
Winning projects include:
- Installation of two Free Little Libraries
- Upgrades to benches and pet waste stations
- A Health and Wellness Fair
- New outdoor seating for a local business
- Lighting improvements
- Enhancements to home exteriors, such as a new front door, fresh paint, fascia and crack repairs, and landscaping upgrades, including brush removal and tree plantings
“As Port St. Lucie continues to invest in resident-driven solutions, Love Your Block plays a vital role in fostering collaboration between local government and community members,” said Mayor Shannon Martin. “By providing mini-grants and hands-on support, the program helps residents transform public spaces, strengthen neighborhood connections, and build a greater sense of ownership and pride in their communities. I extend congratulations to all the award recipients and express gratitude to the city’s partners and residents, and to the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins, for making this initiative possible.”
All of the projects awarded a mini-grant will be completed by mid- August. The Love Your Block program also includes grant money for City-led public projects. The next phase of the program in Whispering Pines will focus on those projects based on input from residents and community members.
Residents interested in learning more about the Love Your Block program Port St. Lucie or volunteering to support local projects can visit www.CityofPSL.com/LoveYourBlock.
About the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University:
The Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University works to advance public sector innovation across the globe by marrying cutting-edge practice with world-class research to transform the culture of government, deliver exceptional results for residents, and inspire trust in public service. Launched in 2021 in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University, the Center supports programs that equip local governments to unlock the insight, talent, and energy of their residents in cities across the globe. For more information, please visit publicinnovation.jhu.edu or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
About the City of Port St. Lucie:
With more than 250,000 residents, the City of Port St. Lucie is the sixth largest city by population in Florida (South Florida’s second largest city). The City occupies an area of 120 square miles in St. Lucie County on Florida’s scenic east coast, about 50 miles north of West Palm Beach, halfway between Miami and Orlando. The City provides most traditional municipal services including law enforcement, water and sewer and public works. For more information, please visit www.cityofpsl.com.