WHERE THE HEART IS

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Where the Heart Is annually partners with one neighborhood to instigate overall neighborhood reinvestment. Residents work together with City staff, non-profits, businesses, religious groups and volunteers to stimulate positive physical and social change over the year. 

Resident engagement is pivotal to the success of this program. Collectively residents brainstorm ideas, connect resources, identify assets, help neighbors and work together to creatively solve problems and improve their own neighborhood.  

Simultaneously the City of Garland is reinvesting in the neighborhood in various ways for example improving streets, updating street lights, improving park access, educating residents and connecting residents to available resources to improve their homes. 

Click here to view photos and videos from past years. 

Neighborhood Improvement Projects

In the March meeting, neighbors identified projects that they would like to see in the Western Heights neighborhood. These projects focus on neighborhood safety, increasing social activities and improving aesthetics of the neighborhood. Each focus area will be driven by neighbor input from action teams comprised of your neighbors. 

Action Teams

Each action team will have various responsibilities in addition to their directives including updating neighbors on their team's progress, attending meetings and championing team ideas.

• Safety Team: This team will collaborate on addressing safety challenges including speeding and lighting.
• Social Outreach Team: This team will assist with outreach and special events such as block parties, coffee and donuts, litter cleanups, etc.
• Design Team: Contribute to design elements for sign toppers, walking trails and the screening wall along Shiloh.

Sign up for an action team that most interests you by emailing Neighborhoods@GarlandTX.gov .

Project Updates

These updates are ongoing. Please continue to monitor this page for future updates, or sign up for emails to get notified on project updates directly.

Safety Team: View results from the street lighting audit. Speed humps have been identified as a need by residents on Centennial, Pear tree, and Western. At the August 4 block party, residents on these streets signed up to initiate speed studies along these streets. 

Social Outreach Team: Evaluation for the potential of starting a neighborhood association. Ideas for outreach events in the neighborhood. The block party on August 4 was so much fun thanks to our social outreach team! Starting a neighborhood group would lead to additional block parties as well as funding for safety projects, such as speed humps.

Design Team: Sign topper designs have been narrowed, and voted on at the August 4 block party! Stay tuned for emails announcing the winning design. Tree sculptures concept is moving forward for dead, dying or dangerous trees located in the area between the sidewalk and street. Multiple residents signed up for tree sculptures at the August 4 block party. If you think you have a tree that qualifies, sign up to have your tree evaluated! 

Streets and sidewalks will be replaced on Lawson, Maydelle and King be prepared for street closures, construction and having to move parked cars from these streets.