Video: Tattnall Square Park will get a new design with funding from the neighborhood challenge.

It’s been just over a year since the Knight Foundation trustees approved a five-year, $3 million grant to the Community Foundation of Central Georgia to fund an innovative program, the Knight Neighborhood Challenge. The program funds residents best ideas for making the historic College Hill area a vibrant place to live. The second round of recipients was announced this evening, and what a great year it has been!

When the grant was approved, some said ‘Do you REALLY think you can find $3 million worth of resident-driven ideas to improve the College Hill neighborhood in Macon, Georgia?’ ‘I never had a doubt.

This second round of investment reflects the great ideas of this community’.large and small. There were proposals totaling over $1 million for the $200,000 that the community foundation ultimately distributed. While of course it is wonderful to see innovative ideas generated by our friends and neighbors, the most gratifying part of the Knight Neighborhood Challenge is that the improvements will benefit everyone in Macon.

Check out the list below.

This investment that Knight Foundation is making in the College Hill Corridor and Macon is a tangible expression of Knight’s commitment to this community.

I can’t wait for round three. Macon residents are invited to learn more and’apply.

Round two recipients are:

College Hill Alliance”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $94,518

Tattnall Square Park Improvements: Design Phase To implement the design phase of the College Hill Master Plan’s improvements for Tattnall Square Park.

Rebuilding Macon Inc.”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $25,000

‘Macon’ a Difference in the Corridor To beautify and restore the homes of elderly and disabled homeowners in the College Hill Corridor’ ensuring that they are warm, safe and dry.

Historic Macon Foundation”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $21,950

Tyler’s Place Dog Park Improvements To employ a local artist to create an agility course, furniture and sculpture for Tyler’s Place Dog Park.

College Hill Alliance”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $18,500

Second Sunday Brunch To offer free live concerts, one Sunday a month, which will continue to attract a diverse audience to the College Hill Corridor.

Macon Outreach at Mulberry”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $10,000 Macon Outreach Community Garden To establish a community garden and compost area that will bring a vibrant new use to an empty lot. The harvest will be dedicated to feeding the hungry in Central Georgia.

ELucas Consulting, Inc.”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $6,500

Cotton Avenue Revival Festival To remember and relive the rich history of the historic Cotton Avenue area with a festival offering music, arts and entertainment.

Centenary United Methodist Church”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $6,190

Beall’s Hill Garden: Safe, Clean and Branded To install historically appropriate fencing, raised beds and signage in Beall’s Hill Garden.

Nathan Dees”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $5,000

Cops on the Hill To establish a fund to provide down payment or deposit assistance for law enforcement officers who choose to live in the College Hill Corridor.

Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $3,716

Corridor Event Recycling Bins To purchase recycling bins for use at events within the corridor.’ The bins will be orange and feature the College Hill Corridor logo.

Mercer University”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $3,200

Energy Audit of Tattnall Square Presbyterian Church To conduct an energy audit of Tattnall Square Presbyterian Church by Mercer University School of Engineering faculty.

Heather B. Cutway”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $2,150

We’ll Leave the Light On! To help light the way efficiently while making people feel safe by giving residents energy-efficient, fluorescent lights to display outside their homes from dusk to dawn.

James E. Waldron”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $1,000

Composting Analysis and Design for Mercer Village To design an appropriate, user-friendly and adaptable composting facility for the Mercer Village area.

Mercer University”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $890

Energy Audits for College Hill Corridor To offer energy audits of homes in the College Hill Corridor area performed by Mercer University School of Engineering students.

Heather B. Cutway”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $700

Urban Hikes in the Corridor To provide guided, one-hour walks in the corridor with an expert on the College Hill area.

Pam Thomasson”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $689

Ocmulgee Bird points the way to Macon’s Indian Mounds To provide a better sign leading to Ocmulgee National Monument.

Lee A. Johnson”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $528

Graffiti Control Patrol To paint over gang graffiti on buildings, streets and traffic signs.

Aaron Zaritzky”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $450

‘No Trash Dumping’ Sign in Beall’s Hill To help neighbors in Beall’s Hill install a ‘No Trash Dumping’ sign near an entry to their neighborhood

Nathan Dees”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ ”””””’ $450

College Hill Graffiti Cleanup To initiate weekend volunteer graffiti clean-up projects.