(Hartford, Conn., June 19, 2020) – The Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS® (GHAR), received a $2500 Placemaking grant from the National Association of Realtors® to help make the Hudson Street Community Garden a vibrant public space for the community to gather and enjoy.
The grant is intended to help Realtor Associations partner with others to plan, organize, implement and create new public spaces and destinations in their communities. By partnering with KNOX, a coalition of residents, volunteers, corporate partners, and community organizations that support Hartford’s people and environment, the Community Involvement Committee of GHAR was able to use Realtor volunteers and funds to help create a gathering space.
The project, that started in late 2018, brought Realtors to Hudson Street in Hartford to help fill the raised beds and mulch the area. Grant funds were used to purchase stone, a gazebo, benches, and a picnic table. The project involved volunteer coordination with KNOX, United Technologies and students from Hartford High School.
“Realtors® live, work and volunteer in their communities and take immense pride in working to improve them,” said Holly Callanan, CEO of GHAR. “Placemaking can help foster healthier, more social and economically viable communities. It creates places where people feel a strong stake in their neighborhoods and are committed to making things better. This grant allowed us to create a place where friends and neighbors can come together.”
“As the garden area becomes more attractive and welcoming, nearby properties may also increase in value,” said Laurie Boske, Committee Chair. “It’s been such a rewarding project for our Realtor members to help create this community space near downtown Hartford.”
The Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS® (GHAR) is the largest local real estate trade association in Connecticut, serving over 4000 members in the 27 town Greater Hartford real estate brokerage community. The Association provides technology, training, networking and business support to members, and supports a healthy real estate market by upholding high professional and ethical standards through a Code of Ethics, ongoing education and certification programs. As the advocate for the real estate brokerage industry, GHAR is the Voice for Real Estate® in the Greater Hartford region. For more information, call 1.860.561.1800 or visit www.gharonline.com.
KNOX coordinates a variety of greening programs, including workforce training, Community Gardening Program, KNOX City Planters, Trees for Hartford Neighborhoods, Greater Hartford Green Team, and Hartford Cleans Up. KNOX is an ever-growing coalition of residents, volunteers, corporate partners, and community organizations that support Hartford’s people and environment. www.knoxhartford.org
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