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Bellevue provides update on Neighborhood Enhancement Program; $7 million, neighborhood‑driven projects in rotation
Summary
City staff reported the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) is in its 2023–2029 cycle with a $7 million budget; recent completed projects and the 2025 call for project ideas in Bridal Trails and Northwest Bellevue were described.
Bellevue staff briefed council on April 22 about the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP), a long‑running city program that lets residents propose and vote on small capital projects in their local neighborhood area. The city described the NEP as operating on a seven‑year, $7 million cycle that rotates through Bellevue’s 14 neighborhood areas.
Mark Kyleman, neighborhood outreach manager, and Theresa Cud Hill, NEP coordinator, told council that NEP projects have ranged from landscaping, wetlands work and trails to small amenity upgrades such as bat houses and pedestrian safety improvements. The program uses area budgets sized to the number of households in each neighborhood area and routes proposals that are out of scope to appropriate city departments for consideration through other funding channels.
Recent and planned projects: Staff highlighted three recent projects — a Northeast 160 Fourth Avenue NE landscaping project that improved safety near two schools and Crossroads Park, a pedestrian‑bridge safety upgrade at Lakemont Community Park (Cougar Mountain/Lakemont), and a Northeast Eighth Street crossing project near I‑405 (downtown/Wilburton gateway) that includes marked crosswalks, rapid flashing beacons and signalization work.
Outreach and participation: NEP staff reported outreach included mailings, pop‑ups and open houses and that the program reached hundreds of voting households in recent neighborhood cycles (example figures: 436 voting households in Westlake‑Sammamish area; 550 in Northeast Bellevue in the prior cycle). The city said NEP continues to score high in resident evaluations and encouraged residents to submit project ideas for Bridal Trails (open house June 11) and Northwest Bellevue (submissions accepted through April 30).
Why it matters: NEP directs locally prioritized capital funds to projects selected by residents, creating small‑scale improvements targeted to neighborhood needs. Staff said the program’s success depends on resident participation and the NEP core team, which includes subject‑matter staff from transportation, utilities and parks who scope and implement approved projects.
Next steps: Staff will continue outreach to Bridal Trails and Northwest Bellevue and return to council with project development updates and schedules as neighborhoods select projects for implementation.
