For more than forty years, the Bayfront East Side Taskforce (B.E.S.T.) has been working to improve the Historic East Bayfront through blight removal, property renovation, and beautification. Recently, B.E.S.T. moved to a new location in the heart of the Historic East Bayfront at 231 Parade Street–just a block and a half away from their former offices.
The nonprofit will be hosting an open house on Thursday, June 8, from 3 - 6pm to introduce new staff members and allow guests to tour the new office space while sharing information about exciting initiatives for the neighborhood. For example, the recently-expanded B.E.S.T. Community Garden is the only USDA-designated People's Garden in a nearly 2-hour radius and offers a way for neighbors to help neighbors as many gardeners share seeds, produce, and gardening tips. B.E.S.T. makes Erie better.
B.E.S.T. currently employs one full-time, one part-time, and two shared employees to complete its task of improving the quality of the East Bayfront. B.E.S.T. is also the recipient of a Safe Routes to Parks Pennsylvania Activating Communities 2023 grant and technical assistance program–one of only four organizations chosen to participate in this opportunity.
Come meet the B.E.S.T. team and learn more about how to support Erie's oldest neighborhood.
