Byrne Grant Spending and Program Status (June 2026)

While early Byrne Grant investments varied across neighborhoods, Safe Blocks is committed to balanced and equitable funding in the three grant-funded neighborhoods, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Hazelwood, and Eliot. This approach ensures the program maintains equitable investment across communities while still prioritizing locally generated project ideas.

Learn more about the Byrne Grant and the Place-Based Violence Intervention Project.

Programmed vs. Unprogrammed Funding

• $630,000 has been programmed (completed + in progress + anticipated).
• $470,000 remains unprogrammed.
• Of the $2 million Byrne grant, $1.1 million is dedicated to community programming and projects.
• To comply with City policy and federal law, the City will initiate a competitive process for all projects exceeding $10,001.  For projects $10,000 and below, the City may contract directly with a particular vendor. For projects labeled "direct" that are in excess of $10,001, it means we are providing funds to another city bureau to implement.

Projects Completed or In Progress

Dawson Park bollards

• Year: 2024
• Contract type: Direct
• Project scope: Bollards to prevent vehicle access
• Estimated cost: $40,000
• Neighborhood: Eliot
• Project type: Infrastructure
• Status: Completed

Ventura Park Elementary placemaking projects

• Year: 2026-27
• Contract type: Competitive RFP
• Project scope: Street painting
• Estimated cost: $50,000
• Neighborhood: Hazelwood
• Project type: Public art
• Status: Awardee selection

Menlo Park Elementary placemaking projects

• Year: 2026-27
• Contract type: Competitive RFP
• Project scope: Street and bike lane painting
• Estimated cost: $50,000
• Neighborhoods: Hazelwood and Powellhurst-Gilbert
• Project type: Public art
• Status: Awardee selected

Gilbert Park Elementary placemaking project

• Year: 2026-27
• Contract type: Competitive RFP
• Project scope: Street painting
• Estimated cost: $50,000
• Neighborhood: Powellhurst-Gilbert
• Project type: Public art
• Status: Awardee selected

Floyd Light Middle School placemaking project

• Year: 2026-27
• Contract type: Direct
• Project scope: Street painting
• Estimated cost: $10,000
• Neighborhood: Hazelwood
• Project type: Public art
• Status: Contracting

View full size image of David Douglas High School Mural

David Douglas High School art project

• Year: 2026
• Contract type: Direct
• Project scope: Sidewalk mural
• Estimated cost: $10,000
• Neighborhood: Hazelwood
• Project type: Public art
• Status: In progress

Dawson Park placemaking project

• Year: 2026-27
• Contract type: Competitive RFP
• Project scope: Street painting
• Estimated cost: $50,000
• Neighborhood: Eliot
• Project type: Public art
• Status: Competitive RFP released May 2026
• Project website

Community-initiated RFP

• Year: 2026-27
• Contract type: Competitive RFP
• Project scope: Place-based violence prevention
• Estimated cost: $200,000
• Neighborhood: TBD
• Project type: TBD
• Status: Competitive RFP to be released June 2026

Anticipated / Planned Projects

All anticipated projects are currently in scoping or early planning stages.

Pedestrian wayfinding project

• Year: 2027
• Contract type: Direct
• Project scope: Pedestrian wayfinding program
• Estimated cost: $50,000
• Neighborhood: Eliot
• Project type: Infrastructure
• Status: Project development

Street painting at SE 119th/Ash

• Year: 2026-27
• Contract type: Direct
• Project scope: Street painting
• Estimated cost: $10,000
• Neighborhood: Hazelwood
• Project type: Public art
• Status: Project development

Street painting at NE 120th/Couch

• Year: 2026-27
• Contract type: Direct
• Project scope: Street painting
• Estimated cost: $10,000
• Neighborhood: Hazelwood
• Project type: Public art
• Status: Project development

Community-initiated RFP #2

• Year: 2027-28
• Contract type: Competitive RFP
• Project scope: Place-based violence prevention
• Estimated cost: $100,000
• Neighborhood: TBD
• Project type: TBD
• Status: Competitive RFP to be released May 2027