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Habitat for Humanity reports Woodland Park ‘Spruce Up the Block’: 18 households applied, 15 to receive exterior work
Summary
Habitat for Humanity of Lake and Sumter updated the commission on its "Spruce Up the Block" work in Woodland Park: the group adopted the entire 47‑home neighborhood, received 18 applications and is completing exterior repairs and painting for at least 15 homes; a community celebration is set for March 29.
Veronica Troxell, program director for Habitat for Humanity Lake and Sumter, briefed the Leesburg City Commission on the organization’s Spruce Up the Block program and on a current project in Woodland Park. Troxell said the program adopts a neighborhood block for exterior repairs and beautification rather than selecting individual households by income.
"This program's a little different. We are selecting that based on the community, not on individuals," Troxell said, describing a model launched in April 2018 that pairs local vendors and volunteers with families to do painting, minor repairs and cleanup. For the Woodland Park effort Habitat said the organization "adopted the entirety of Woodland Park" (47 homes total); 18 families applied, 15 are scheduled to receive updates and staff reported that 11 of 13 houses slated for painting were already painted.
Troxell credited local partners including Leesburg High School Construction Academy students, Florida Paints (which donated more than 400 gallons of paint), nonprofit and college volunteer groups and local vendors supplying dumpsters and water. She said 80 volunteers had worked on the project so far and invited commissioners and the public to a community celebration and volunteer session on March 29 with morning volunteer shifts and a later community party.
Several Woodland Park residents thanked Habitat and the city; Christina Foster told commissioners, "the Hollywood community is looking like Hollywood. It looks good." Commissioner Allison Berry was singled out by residents for support. Troxell asked residents and commissioners to RSVP for the March 29 event and said the Construction Academy crew had been instrumental in on‑site leadership.
No formal action was taken by the commission on the presentation; staff and residents discussed ongoing partnership and opportunities to replicate the program in other parts of the city.
