The Selkirk Association of Realtors has received a $3,000 Placemaking grant from the National Association of Realtors to help make Bonner County a better place to live by transforming an unused space into vibrant public space for the community to gather and enjoy.

The grant is intended to help Realtor Associations partner with others to plan, organize, implement and maintain lighter, quicker, cheaper placemaking projects in their communities

The Selkirk Association of Realtors will use the funds to help purchase fencing materials for the garden. They will partner the East Bonner County Library, SiteLine Design, Panhandle Health District, Kinnickinnick Native Plant Society, University of Idaho Extension Master Gardener Program, Sandpoint Community Resource Center, Ponderay Rotary, and Kaniksu Land Trust on this project who will also be providing funds, resources, and volunteers to help make this project a reality for the community.

“Realtors live, work and volunteer in their communities and take immense pride in working to improve them,” said Steve Battenschlag, 2018 Selkirk Association of Realtors President. “Placemaking can help foster healthier, more social and economically viable communities. It creates places where people feel a strong stake in their neighborhoods and are committed to making things better. This grant will allow us to address areas in our community that are in need of enhancement and revitalization and create a place where friends and neighbors can come together.”

Placemaking grants are awarded to local and state Realtor associations to help them and their members create new public spaces and destinations in a community, like turning a parking spot into a people spot (parklet) or a vacant lot into a pocket park. R

ealtor associations and their Realtor members are actively engaged in the community and know the neighborhoods and the properties that would benefit most from these placemaking projects.

“As the library area becomes more attractive and welcoming, nearby properties may also increase in value,” said Battenschlag.