Newport's Top of the Hill Neighborhood awarded national grant

NEWPORT’S TOP OF THE HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AWARDED “MAKE EVERY BLOCK BETTER” NATIONAL GRANT.

NEWPORT, R. I. — The restoration of a small city park at the corner of Kay Street and Rhode Island Avenue is now underway after the Top of the Hill Association successfully secured grant funding to make it a more inviting green space.

The neighborhood association was awarded a $10,000 grant from a national competition to make possible its plans to beautify and upgrade Luce Memorial Park, named after Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, who lived nearby during the last 34 years of his life. Luce (1827-1917) was the founder and first president of the U.S. Naval War College (USNWC)

Sponsored by H&R Block and Nextdoor, T.O.H. entered the national competition by submitting plans to enhance the landscaping of the Admiral Steven Luce Park at the corner of Kay Street and Rhode Island Avenue in Newport.

As stated in the winning submission, the association “will apply the grant funding to restoring Luce Park, making it once again an inviting greenspace for neighbors and visitors alike as well as restoring the park’s reputation as a fitting tribute to the man for which it is named.”

Learn more about the eleven winning projects and involvement by local organizations, community members, and small businesses on the H&R Block + Nextdoor site.

NAVAL WAR COLLEGE FOUNDATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO LUCE PARK

An additional $2,500 grant has been generously donated to the T.O.H. Association by the Naval War College Foundation.

"We are grateful to the Top of the Hill Association for their efforts to revitalize this wonderful park named after Admiral Stephen B. Luce, founder of the U.S. Naval War College. The Naval War College Foundation exists to support the College, America's premier institution for professional military education, including its historical connection to the larger community here in Newport, RI" said Naval War College Foundation CEO, CAPT George E. Lang, Jr. USN (Ret.)

The TOH Association will be holding a Volunteer Day to clean the park on Saturday, July 23rd from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Representatives of H&R Block and Nextdoor will be in attendance to support and publicize the restoration effort.

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The Top of the Hill Association is a non-profit neighborhood organization with more than 300 members who live in the beautiful, tree lined and historic neighborhood east of Newport harbor at the “top of the hill.”

The Hill Association fosters social and cultural interaction based on member interests. The Association is also focused on civic issues that impact its residents and engages in beautification projects to enhance its neighborhood.