Award-Winning Neighborhood Blitz Coming To Kennedy Heights, Pendleton

Neighborhood Enhancement Program Targets Blight, Crime Through Partnerships

Cincinnati neighborhoods Kennedy Heights and Pendleton will see a 90-day blitz of City services this year as part of the award-winning Neighborhood Enhancement Program. The NEP is a partnership between the City and the community to address blight, crime and other nuisances, and its goal is to serve as a kick-start to long-term neighborhood revitalization and reinvestment.

• More Photos: 2012 NEP Announcement

Kennedy Heights and Pendleton will be the 13th and 14th neighborhoods to take part in the NEP. U.S. Bank, PNC Bank and Huntington Bank all donated seed money totaling $19,000 to facilitate improvements in both neighborhoods.

"A key component of the NEP is partnership. This is a collaborative effort, and the City cannot do this alone," City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. said. "We're grateful for the many residents and members of our business community who have stepped up, because that's what makes this program a success."

A new component this year will be the participation of Lighthouse Youth Services, which helps 18- to 22-year-olds who are coming out of the juvenile justice system and learning a trade to be successful members of the community. Together with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, young men from Lighthouse Youth Services will help by mowing and clearing vacant lots during each of the NEPs.

Kennedy Heights kicks off its NEP on March 1, 2012, and the NEP comes to Pendleton starting Aug. 15, 2012.