More than 300 community members bonded over games, live music and fun in Kiwanis Park as part of the fourth annual Neighborhood Celebration on Saturday, April 5. 

Fifteen amazing neighbors, community members and local businesses were awarded for being great neighbors, impacting Tempe’s arts and culture, contributing to sustainability and resilience, conserving water and more, a press release explained. 

Tempe would like to congratulate award winners for their impactful contributions to their community and thank the Neighborhood Advisory Commission for another successful neighborhood gathering, the release stated. 

2025 Neighborhood Awards honorees are:

• Neighborhood Awards: Christine Baldanza, Sheila Bryant, Lily's Pad, Annie Santoro, Tom Fuhrmann and Laura Kajfez. 
• Arts and Culture Awards: Paul Kent, Stu Siefer, Tyson Weed, Kyllan Maney, David Rhodes and Downtown Tempe Authority. 
• Sustainability Neighbors of the Year: Rupinder Dhaliwal and Kelly Hedberg. 
• Water Wise Landscape of the Year: Susan Tyrrel. 

The morning was spent drinking Brick Road Coffee, eating a light breakfast, getting free haircuts from Borrosos Barber Studio, enjoying interactive chalk art with local artist Louie Flores, listening to live music by local band Bohemian Insurgence, playing yard games and more, the release explained. 

Attendees shopped at small business vendors on site, including Uplighten Life, Naked Fig Soap, Map Stand and a Sweet Repeats pop-up store.

Neighborhood Advisory Commission Chair Brittney Wong said in the release that the Tempe Neighborhood Celebration embodies what the community should strive to accomplish in each individual neighborhood. 

“When we come together to celebrate our neighbors in harmony accompanied by food, music, and friendship, neighborhoods collectively create a strong and thriving community,” Wong said.

The awards ceremony is available to watch on the city of Tempe’s Facebook page or on Youtube.

For more, visit tempe.gov/NeighborhoodCelebration.