Bellevue City Manager updates Neighborhood Enhancement Program's community-led projects

The Bellevue City Council meeting held on April 22, 2025, featured a significant update on the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP), presented by City Manager Mark Kyleman and Neighborhood Enhancement Coordinator Theresa Cud Hill. This program, which has been operational since 1988, empowers residents to recommend and select small capital projects funded by the city to improve their neighborhoods.

Kyleman highlighted the program's success, noting a budget of $7 million allocated over a seven-year cycle, currently covering 2023 to 2029. The NEP rotates through Bellevue's 14 neighborhood areas, allowing residents to propose various projects, including landscaping, park improvements, and safety enhancements. Recent examples include a landscaping project near schools in Northeast Bellevue and safety upgrades for a pedestrian bridge in the Cougar Mountain Lakemont area.

The presentation emphasized the importance of resident participation, with multiple opportunities for community input through online and in-person meetings. The NEP core team, consisting of staff from various city departments, plays a crucial role in guiding residents through the project selection process and ensuring successful implementation.

Kyleman also shared statistics on resident engagement, noting that in the Westlake Sammamish area, 18% of households participated in voting, while 14% engaged in Northeast Bellevue. The program has received high ratings from participants, reflecting the community's appreciation for the city's investment in local neighborhoods.

Looking ahead, the NEP is currently accepting project submissions and voting from the Bridal Trails and Northwest Bellevue areas, with an open house scheduled for June 11. The meeting concluded with a call for continued resident involvement and support for upcoming projects.