2026 Grant: Expanding Communication Channels
This year’s grant project—Expanding Communication Channels—is designed to increase awareness of Cherryhill events. Late last year, we noticed a significant uptick in attendance at association meetings and events when standing signs were displayed around the neighborhood. With 2026 grant funds from the City of Sunnyvale, we invested in 30 A-frame sign stands made from powder-coated steel rods as well as 30 sets of weatherproof, double-sided signs (printed at our local printer, Pine Press Printing!). The overall goal is to increase visibility for events within the association’s boundaries by having one or more signs per street—hosted by block reps and appearing a week or so in advance of an event. Each sign has a QR code linking to year-specific information on our website so the signs may be re-used year after year.
Having durable signage appear before each event will hopefully reach new neighbors or those not on Cherryhill’s Google Group email list. With this project, you might have noticed a bit of a makeover to our Cherryhill logo, website and newsletter masthead… we hope you like the new look!
As you stroll around, be on the lookout for our new portable signs (see below). We hope to see you at our events and meetings throughout the year!
Grant Program Results (Anecdotal)–2026 Block Party
In addition to the re-usable block signs, we purchased two stand-up flags to help mark event spaces as well as a number of tabletop signs to advertise our committees (Emergency Preparedness, Senior Advocates, Crime & Traffic, etc.).
The block party was great! Based on the number of name tags used, and adding in a dozen or so for folks who didn’t get a name tag, there were about 150 people, including kids! Twice as many people as expected! I’m confident that this was the result of: 1) Our event signs being out two weeks before, and 2) Our great neighborhood! Thank you everyone for a wonderful day!
Thank you Cherryhill Board and volunteers for a great summer block party today! What a good turnout of friends and neighbors, some familiar faces, some new. We enjoyed all the great food and conversation. The event was so popular that we started to run out of plates and forks! I’d like to volunteer to check out some party pack options that we can borrow for our National Night Out event in August. (GreenTown Los Altos, Ethos Refillery Store and Sunnyvale Senior Center all have packs available to borrow for free). This was a fun way to kick off summer~
Great block party with excellent food and conversation! Thank you to all the board members for their hard work in making these events happen. I know they are not easy to plan and organize. Also, very impressive turnout! I’m sure the signs helped, thanks to Bhavana (our block rep coordinator) and the block reps themselves!
Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event – was great to catch up with folks and meet some of our wider circle of neighbors… Really enjoyed the fantastic food and chit chats. Look forward to future ones and am happy to help out.
A big thank you for a wonderful neighborhood party. I haven’t seen neighborhood connections as special as this in a very long time. It warms my heart. It really does “take a Village “. Thank you.
It was truly a wonderful day and event. Nice to chat with many of the folks at the park. Wonderful to meet new people in the neighborhood.
Hi Kyle, Jim, Kim, Kathy, Cindy, and Joann, Madura, thank you all for organizing another amazing neighborhood event! A special shoutout to all the block reps for their hard work in spreading the word and posting the signs. It was wonderful seeing everyone who was able to make it. For those who couldn’t attend, we missed you and hope to see you at the next one! Grateful to be part of this neighborhood community.
Awesome event! Thanks for all the hard work and fun socializing.
I have been seeing all of the emails in the past day about the fun time that was had by everyone who was able to attend this year’s Cherryhill Block Party yesterday at De Anza Park. There was a wonderful variety of foods, great conversations, games for kids, background music and helpful information about the Cherryhill Neighborhood Association, Emergency Preparedness, resources for our seniors and caregivers, and efforts undertaken to curb hazardous crime and traffic issues to keep Cherryhill NA a safe and vibrant place to live.
As your Cherryhill Board Chairperson, I know the many people behind organizing our many events and the efforts that are expended to make them fun and successful. To my Board colleagues, the Board Advisory Committee members, our Block Representatives, and members of Cherryhill NA, I want to send you all my heartfelt thank you for the work that was put in to make this event successful.
I also want to thank the many Cherryhill NA residents that attended. We had around 150 attendees; twice the attendance we were anticipating! In truth, our events are only successful when our members are able to participate and have a fun time. The attendance and participation is a testament to why Cherryhill NA is one of the best areas in Sunnyvale in which to live.
If you were not able to attend, we very much hope you will be able to join our next event; National Night Out (“NNO”) on August 4, 2026 at 6pm at De Anza Park picnic area. This is our opportunity to again gather, enjoy each other’s company and get to meet, thank and support our Sunnyvale Public Safety team and other government representatives. Details for this event will begin to be planned very soon. Watch for our Block Representatives to get the neighborhood reminder signs out near the end of July. In the meantime, save the date to your calendar! We hope to see you there.
If you are interested in helping to keep Cherryhill NA the vibrant neighborhood that it is, please let the Board know. You can contact us by email at Board@Cherryhillna.org.
Thanks for the nice comments everyone!! I also thought it was a truly outstanding party. I think likely the largest attendance to date!! We need to compare and share photos — maybe on a shared folder site.
Any approximate count of the attendees? It varied throughout the Event which makes it a challenging counting problem.
We have to thank Kathy B. and the Cherryhill neighborhood Group for the reusable signs to advertise special events like the Block Party, Harvest Share, Holiday Walkabout, etc.
Keeping it clearly visible in advance likely led to higher participation.
Big Thanks to:
- Kyle & Conrad and others that did so much to scope out the food and deliver to the party.
- And then even more people providing service with a smile!!
- Tips are due to all the folks who made the food service 1st rate.
- Thanks to Jim S. for handling lots of setup and coordination issues.
- Kimberly T. on Kids activities like Big Bubbles, Horseshoes, and loaning lot
- Thanks to Cindy and JoAnn for all of the Emergency Preparedness information and also for the classes they teach and for Board Leadership and coordination. Well planned.
- Everyone needs to give some serious thought to updating your knowledge and your preparation for the big one.