The West Plains Board of REALTORS® will use a $7,500 placemaking grant from the National Association of REALTORS® to help transform three pedestrian alleywaysin Downtown West Plains into a vibrant, public destination for community use and enjoyment.
The grant was designed by NAR to enable local REALTOR®Associations to partner with other neighboring organizations to plan, organize, implement and maintain lighter, quicker, and cheaper placemaking projects in their communities
West Plains Downtown will use the funds to help provide seating, tables, lights, and shade in three pedestrian walkways downtown. Partners include the West Plains Board of REALTORS®, AARP, Missouri Main Street, The City of West Plains, West Plains Senior Center, West Plains Council on the Arts, and MSU West Plains. These organizations will be building benches and tables, hanging lights, painting, planting plants, and maintaining it once complete.
“REALTORS® live, work and volunteer in their communities and take immense pride in our work to make West Plains neighborhoods better places to live, work and raise a family,” said Realtor Jeff Tune. “This grant gives us a tangible, immediate opportunity to identify and address areas in downtown West Plains that need enhancement and revitalization and can be used for the greater good. Placemaking can help foster healthier, more social and economically viable communities, and creates places where people feel a strong stake in their neighborhoods and are committed to making things better.”
“As the Downtown West Plains area becomes more attractive and welcoming, nearby properties can also increase in value,” said Tune.
The West Plains Board of REALORS® is the local trade association of leading real estate practitioners. The National Association of Realtors®is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
