Six neighborhood groups, community organizations and nonprofits will receive a total of $26,200 in funding for community improvement projects through the second annual Love Your Block initiative, San Bernardino city officials announced Wednesday.
Selected projects include murals, community cleanups and a little free library geared toward the historic Route 66 corridor in advance of the “mother road’s” centennial anniversary.
“As we mark 100 years of Route 66, these Love Your Block projects highlight the importance of preserving and reinvesting in this iconic corridor,” Mayor Helen Tran said in a statement. “It’s inspiring to see residents leading efforts to beautify and reenergize this historic area, ensuring it continues to be a source of pride and opportunity for San Bernardino.”
Online and in-person voting by the community took place with a field of 12 finalists, with six eventual grant recipients who received the most votes.
The winning projects were announced via social media April 24 and presented at an Earth Day event held in downtown San Bernardino the following day as part of a nationwide announcement by all 16 Love Your Block cities throughout the nation.
The 2026 initiative marks the second year San Bernardino has partnered with the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation on the Love Your Block Program.
“Established in 2009, Love Your Block empowers residents to take an active role in revitalizing their neighborhoods,” according to city officials. “Mini-grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to neighborhood groups, students, and civic organizations to support through small-scale, high-impact projects such as local art, beautification and community cleanups.”
San Bernardino and Long Beach are the two California cities in the program, along with:
- Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Columbia, Missouri
- Dallas, Texas
- Durham, North Carolina
- Evanston, Illinois
- Fall River, Massachusetts
- Gary, Indiana
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Port St. Lucie, Florida
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- Reno, Nevada
Funding is still available this year, and San Bernardino officials will continue accepting applications and awarding grants until all funds are distributed or the program concludes on Oct. 31.
Local partners for this initiative include Music Changing Lives and the Neighborhood Association Council of San Bernardino, according to the city.
San Bernardino’s 2026 Love Your Block winners are:
The Mother Road — A Journey Through San Bernardino. Darren Villgas, resident and local artist will create a large mural at the base of the Mt. Vernon Bridge celebrating San Bernardino’s history through four archway designs featuring early railroads, Route 66, classic car culture and modern transportation.
Mt. Vernon Avenue and Seventh Street Mural. Lourdes Yanez with ICM Supremo Llamamiento will create a mural along historic Route 66 at 708 N. Mt. Vernon Ave., honoring the Westside’s rich cultural history, including the former Columbus Theatre and Teatro Azteca.
Downtown Wall of Fame Mural and Cleanup. The Downtown Neighborhood Association in collaboration with artist Christian Mariscal will feature a mural at the Court Street Square celebrating the city’s connection to Route 66 with Route 66 imagery, local landmarks and cultural elements. The project will also feature ongoing community cleanups, helping beautify downtown and create a lasting landmark.
Connecting the Past. Hal Lacy, resident and local artist, will create a vibrant Route 66 themed mural that will transform a blank wall into a meaningful public landmark that will feature local landmarks, cultural symbols and recognizable Route 66 imagery, while also honoring Amapola Rico Taco for its 50 years as a valued neighborhood business.
The Gateway Project. The Ramona Alessandro Neighborhood Association will install a colorful sign celebrating San Bernardino’s identity as the Gateway to Southern California and its historic connection to Route 66. Located along a highly traveled corridor, the sign will create a landmark that residents will see daily, “building community pride and strengthening neighborhood identity,” officials said.
Route 66 Little Free Library. Girl Scout Troop 1134 and Girl Scout Troop 1419 will establish a Route 66-themed Little Free Library at Anne Shirrells Park near the Akoma Unity Center to provide free books for kids and families and encourage reading in the community.
Additional grant awards will be announced on the city’s social media platforms as they are finalized, officials said.
For more information, go to the Love Your Block website at sbcity.org/1636/Love-Your-Block.
