Some Ames neighborhoods soon will be blooming with flowers, shrubbery, trees and gardens due to more than $18,000 of grant money from the Ames City Council’s Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP).

The NIP resolution states the two main purposes of the program are to “promote a greater sense of community through resident participation in a neighborhood project” and to “strengthen a neighborhood’s appearance with the addition of permanent physical improvements.”

Clare Bills, public relations officer for the City of Ames, said the program is important for neighborhood unity.

“Getting the residents involved to work together is such a key component [to the program],” she said.

Applicants must meet specific criteria before approval is granted by the NIP rating committee.

“Probably the most important aspect is the desire to organize neighborhood involvement and put time into improving the community,” said Harvey Terpstra, NIP committee member and professional staff member of the Iowa State Statistical Laboratory.

Other aspects reviewed in the rating process include the number of residents affected by the project, enhanced safety, promotion of social interaction in the public space, improved housing and environmental impact, Terpstra said.

Bills said 10 applications requesting a total of almost $31,000 in funding from the grants were submitted in February. Seven projects totaling more than $18,000 were approved by the committee:

• Bentwood and Daley Park will receive $1,060 to plant maple trees on the berm around Daley Park’s parking lot and on both sides of Wilder Boulevard near Lincoln Way.

• Old Town Park at Ninth Street and Douglas Avenue will use $2,605 to remove weeds and plants to make room for new perennials.

• Hillside subdivision will receive $2,336 to plant trees around the neighborhood.

• Red Oak/White Oak’s commons will be landscaped with perennials and shrubbery. Park-style seating and security lighting also will be added with the $3,767.50 in funding, and a red oak tree will be planted as a memorial to a neighborhood mother who died of cancer.

• Squaw Creek Park will install fencing around gardens and construction of various improvements, including a message board, butterfly garden and birdhouses with its allocated $3,090.

• Indian Grass Court will receive $3,762 to place a dyed, concrete terrace labeled “Indian Grass Court” in the neighborhood’s island with trees and shrubbery.

• Old Town Tree Planting Guild will receive $2,000 for 40 trees to be replace others that have died due to Dutch Elm disease. This area includes Sixth and 13th Streets and Duff and Grand Avenues.

Two applicants, the Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support and Stone Brooke Homeowners Association, did not receive funding because they failed to meet NIP criteria, Bills said. These groups may modify their plans by April 15.

“[The program] is a nice gesture from the city and a good opportunity for neighbors to make improvements to their environment or make their neighborhood look better,” Terpstra said. “It is a nice way to build a strong community within individual neighborhoods in Ames.”

Bills said residents have another chance to apply for NIP grants in late spring because the city council decided to offer more funding this year.

“Every year, $50,000 is set aside by the city council for this project, and some money from past years is left over,” she said.

Bills said applications for the program are available online at the City of Ames Web site or at Ames City Hall, 515 Clark Ave.

Spring applications for NIP are due June 18.