The Bellevue City Council has approved a bid award for construction of a neighborhood sidewalk on 130th Place Southeast, south of Newport Way in the Factoria area.

The sidewalk was the top Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) project identified by Factoria residents. The council made the project possible by allocating $110,000 of funding – the total available for Factoria – and supplemental funding of $37,000 from the Pedestrian Access Improvement Program.

Through the neighborhood program, residents have the opportunity to request and then vote for projects that they believe will enhance the safety, livability and appearance of their neighborhood. The sidewalk project was by far the preferred project in the area, receiving more than twice as many vote-points as the other projects.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Neighborhood Enhancement Program. The program is designed to maintain and improve neighborhood safety and quality of life, respond to needs identified by the community, inform and empower citizens to be effective participants in community affairs and promote community partnerships.

In the past 20 years, NEP has funded and built 400 projects identified by residents, nearly 90 of which have been sidewalks and walkways. The anniversary will be recognized at the City Council meeting on Nov. 3.