Macon-Bibb County is continuing the second round of its 5 x 5 Neighborhood Improvement Program by focusing on the Kings Park neighborhood in District 3, and Commissioner Lucas, residents, and departments will hold a press conference on Thursday, July 16, at 10:00 a.m. at the recently reopened Samuel Hart Community Center at 3283 Kingston Court/3296 Kingston Court. She and others will discuss what has happened to the neighborhood over time and what is being done to turn it around.

Working with Commissioner Elaine Lucas, the neighborhood was identified as having significant blight issues, as well as some improvements that need to be made at the recently reopened community center and the playground. To view a map of the District 3 area receiving the focused services, click here. For reports and maps from the first round of the program, click here and select the “5 x 5 Neighborhood Improvement Program” tab.

“Kings Park is in great need of our support and focused effort, and I’m very pleased Macon-Bibb has selected them for the next round of the 5 x 5 Program,” says District 3 Commissioner Elaine Lucas. “Beyond those services, our Economic and Community Development, Facilities Management, and Recreation Departments are going above and beyond to get the Community Center reopened and the playground upgraded.”

“By focusing our efforts, we can have a more visible and sustainable impact in our neighborhoods and help them begin to turn around years of decline and neglect,” says Macon-Bibb Mayor Robert Reichert. “The people of Kings Park have come together as a neighborhood and community to end that decline, and we’re delighted to help get that started in a big way.”

About the 5×5 Neighborhood Improvement Program
The 5×5 Neighborhood Improvement Program began in the City of Macon at the direction of then-Mayor Reichert to enhance and target services in a five block area for five weeks. Between April 2014 and April 2015, Macon-Bibb County completed the first round of the expanded 5 x 5 Neighborhood Improvement Program that now serves the entire county. Administration meets with each of the nine elected Commissioners to determine which five block area in their district will receive the focused services, as well as to meet with residents, churches, and community leaders about the needs they would like addressed.

The expansion of the program also included several external agencies joining the effort to focus services and improvement efforts in a concentrated effort. Macon Area Habitat for Humanity, Community Partnerships, the Macon Water Authority, Rebuilding Macon, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office have joined Macon-Bibb County to help make more significant and visible improvements to specific areas.

During these five weeks, departments and partner agencies can provide the following services and improvement efforts, based on the needs of the area.

As part of a great focus on communication with the community, Macon-Bibb County is making a concerted effort to collect and report data from the five-week focused services, and maps and reports from each District are being posted online. Those can be viewed by clicking here and selecting the “5 x 5 Neighborhood Improvement Program” tab.

Second Round Schedule
District 1 – April 20 – May 22, 2015
District 2 – June 1 – July 3, 2015
District 3 – July 13 – August 14, 2015
District 4 – August 24 – September 25, 2015
District 5 – October 5 – November 6, 2015
District 6 – November 16 – December 18, 2015
District 7 – December 28, 2015 – January 29, 2016
District 8 – February 8 – March 11, 2016
District 9 – March 21 – April 22, 2016