In order to achieve our goals, B.E.S.T. champions series of initiatives that revitalize the Historic East Bayfront.
Our annual campaign supports projects such as the Community Garden, our pocket orchards, neighborhood beautification, affordable rental housing, emergency home repairs, and our upcoming Aging in Place initiative.
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Clean upsB.E.S.T. leads a number of neighborhood projects, such as neighborhood cleanups.
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Beautification, Pocket Orchards, and Pocket ParksB.E.S.T.'s signature split rail fencing creates attractive green space throughout the East Bayfront. Many of these lots, which where previously blighted buildings, are now home to peaceful public spaces for our neighbors to enjoy, as we have activated a number of them as pocket parks, such as the one at E. 4th and Parade and the one at E. 3rd and Parade or pocket orchards (check out the two lots on the western corners of E. 5th and Ash).
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Aging in PlaceIn 2024, B.E.S.T. received an AARP Capacity-Building Mini-grant to initiate an Aging in Place project where we were able to offer minor home modifications to neighborhood residents aged 50 and above to help them remain more safely in their homes. While this grant cycle has concluded, B.E.S.T. is looking for ways that we might be able to offer this program, again.
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Home Repair/Addressing code violationsIn 2025, B.E.S.T.'s Neighborhood Assistance Project, sponsored by KnoxLaw, was able to use funds to assist a home owner by clearing out the severe overgrowth in her yard. We were assisted in this work by the Mercyhurst University Football team who made significant headway before our landscapers were able to clear the remaining overgrowth from her yard, thereby making her home accessible in the event of an emergency and safer for the entire block.
