The City of Newark announced the 2026 Love Your Block, Newark! program, a city-funded initiative that provides up to $5,000 for volunteer-driven neighborhood projects focused on sustainability and climate resilience. Applications are now open.
As Newark grapples with extreme heat, chronic flooding and some of the lowest tree canopy coverage in the region, city officials are asking residents to help design solutions for their own neighborhoods.
Mayor Ras J. Baraka on Tuesday announced the launch of the 2026 Love Your Block, Newark! program, a city-funded initiative that provides up to $5,000 for volunteer-driven neighborhood projects focused on sustainability and climate resilience. Applications are now open through March 31.in the country, meaning temperatures in densely built neighborhoods can run significantly hotter than surrounding suburban areas. Large stretches of pavement, limited tree cover and heavy industrial activity compound the problem. City data show that the East, South and Central wards — areas with fewer trees, more impermeable surfaces and proximity to highways, the port and Newark Liberty International Airport — face disproportionate exposure to heat and air pollution. Those same neighborhoods are also more vulnerable to stormwater flooding during major rain events, a problem highlighted during Hurricane Ida when record rainfall inundated parts of the city. “This year, we’re really zeroing in on climate resilience,” said Nicole Hewitt-Cabral, Newark’s chief sustainability officer. “Love Your Block is about turning local ideas into real, visible change. From addressing extreme heat to improving stormwater management, this program helps residents take action on the issues that matter most to them while advancing our citywide sustainability goals.” Hewitt-Cabral’s office — the Office of Sustainability, Resilience and Community Transformation — is charged with making Newark greener, cooler and more resilient, particularly in frontline communities most impacted by environmental hazards.Now in its seventh year, Love Your Block partners community groups with city departments to carry out neighborhood improvement projects. In past years, projects have included beautification efforts, gardens and small-scale infrastructure improvements.That could mean tree planting, installing permeable pavers to reduce flooding, creating community gardens to address food insecurity or even developing micro-forests on vacant lots.Rolling grant decisions until available funding is fully allocated.A new mentorship program pairing first-time grantees with experienced participants.Eligible projects must be led by Newark residents, located within the city, volunteer-driven and demonstrate clear community support. Priority will be given to first-time applicants, youth-led initiatives, Newark Housing Authority residents and block or tenant associations.To encourage participation, the city will host orientation and brainstorming sessions:William Mobile Ashby Community Care and Training Center, Thursday, Feb. 26, 695 Bergen St. 6 to 7:30 p.m.City Hall Press Briefing Room, 920 Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson Blvd., Thursday, March 5, 6 to 7:30 p.m. The sessions are designed to help applicants refine ideas, understand grant requirements and strengthen their proposals.Ande Richards is the Managing Producer, Diversity of Voices at Mosaic, where she covers the city of Elizabeth and produces topical stories from across New Jersey that highlight the struggles and accomplishments...
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