Make Every Block Better Grant Transforms a Park in Disrepair to a Space Befitting its Namesake in Bridgeport, Connecticut

H&R Block and Nextdoor have partnered to Make Every Block Better in communities across the United States. Now in its third year, the partnership allows community members to nominate projects that uplift and improve their neighborhood and give people a place to connect. Read below to learn how Make Every Block Better funds made an impact in Bridgeport, Connecticut and visit the partnership website to learn about the 30 other projects spanning the nation. 

A once well-loved green space had become an overgrown eye sore in a Bridgeport, Connecticut neighborhood. Initially created as an outdoor learning space and butterfly garden, the area had fallen into disrepair. Groundwork Bridgeport — a nonprofit with a mission to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement, and management of the physical environment, by empowering people, businesses, and organizations to promote environmental, economic, and social well-being — wanted to see the space returned to its former beauty.  

With the help of the Make Every Block Better grant, and through a series of events, community members and volunteers made a huge impact. The grant funded professional tree removal services, a new entrance gate, supplies for invasive plant and litter removal as well as new plants, bushes, soil and mulch.    

“One of the volunteers told me he plans to stop by and use the space as a place of respite and to be surrounded by nature as a small oasis in what is an otherwise urban setting,” said Christina Smith, president and CEO of Groundwork Bridgeport. “This investment has been transformational for the site.”