Southwest Garden Neighborhood

Southwest Garden Neighborhood Association (SWGNA)

Southwest Garden Neighborhood Association (SWGNA) is the resident-based volunteer neighborhood association that works for neighborhood improvement. Part of SWGNA also operates as a neighborhood-based community development agency. Using Community Development Block Grant funding, SWGNA’s community development component contracts with the City to achieve five objectives:

• 1) Administer a neighborhood housing resource center by helping households apply for targeted assistance.
• 2) Market area rental property and housing development.
• 3) Coordinate beautification of neighborhood corridors, gateways and community gardens.
• 4) Coordinate block unit organizational meetings and communicate with area public safety officials to abate nuisance properties and criminal activity.
• 5) Assist the Southwest Neighborhood Housing Corporation with housing development.

The association holds four quarterly general membership meetings the third Monday of January, April, July and October. The meeting schedule is:

Meetings are usually held at the Shaw VPA/CEC School at Columbia and Macklind. Please call 772-6082 to verify the meeting location and time. Due to renovations, the April 2007 and July 2007 meetings will be held at a location to be determined.

The doors open at 6:30 PM and the meetings start promptly at 7 PM. You need not be a member to attend, though membership starts at the low price of $6 a year. So, please attend and bring a neighbor or friend.

Major annual activities sponsored by the association:

• Operation Brightside Blitz, Saturdays in March and April
• Home Improvement and Garden Tour, Last Sunday before or first Sunday after Memorial Day weekend
• National Night Out, 1^st Tuesday in August
• Swing with SWGNA Fundraiser, Last Sunday before Labor Day weekend
• Fall Planting Projects, 2^nd and 3^rd weekends in October
• Third District Police Picnic, mid-to late October

The Communicator is SWGNA’s quarterly newsletter distributed to all neighborhood residents. Residents interested in joining the association may contact Dana Gray at 772-6082

Click here for the latest edition of the Communicator.

SWGNA Board of Directors

The Board of Directors meets monthly to discuss issues concerning neighborhood improvements. Board meetings start at 7 PM at the SWGNA office located at 4950 Southwest Avenue, just west of South Kingshighway. Meetings are held monthly the second Monday of every month, except December.