Durham's city government selected six resident-led projects for 2026 Love Your Block mini-grants, splitting $13,250 among teams in Lakewood, West End, and Lyon Park. The city's Office of Performance and Innovation chose the winners from 20 applications.
Four of the six grants go to Lakewood projects. Oak Church and Insight Colearning received $2,500 to clear brush, add seating, and build raised beds at a backyard space near Lakewood Shopping Center. Lakewood Elementary School got $2,500 to install a rainwater catchment system and hire a local artist to paint a mural on the cistern. People's Solidarity Hub received $2,600 for green space restoration, an Indigenous plant mural, and a series of community Paint and Plan Days. Radical Healing received $2,250 to pull invasive species, plant native habitats, and restore murals in a community garden. A fifth Lakewood project, the Jersey Avenue Pollinator Habitat, received $900 for cleanup and native planting along a vacant strip of land.
The West End Community Foundation received $2,500 to install accessible raised garden beds, memorial benches, and a small performance space at Langley Garden.
The grants are backed in part by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. Mayor Leonardo Williams credited the program's reach to the residents who submitted proposals. "The projects selected for this year's Love Your Block mini-grants reflect the incredible creativity and commitment of Durham's residents," Williams said. "These community-driven transformations of our public spaces are exactly what makes this city great."
Several awardees will host volunteer workdays through spring and summer, with residents invited to help with planting, cleanup, and mural work.