The city of Sharon is celebrating the success of a program that allows homeowners to increase the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

Good things are happening in neighborhoods all around Sharon.
The Community Action Partnership of Mercer County held their inaugural deed transfer ceremony Thursday afternoon.

12 homeowners adopted the vacant lot next door and will upkeep that lot.

Old, dilapidated, vacant homes are being torn down and this special program called 'lots to love' allows homeowners to adopts adjacent lots and fix them up. Businesses or organizations call also adopt them and for one example, turn them into community gardens.

There is also something called 'sponsor a lot.'

"We still want to make sure it's mowed and doesn't become an eyesore. We have residents in the community who want to earn a stipend, they will go out and mow the lots and we get sponsorships from local businesses and organizations to pay the stipend," said Christina Campbell, Lots to Love project supervisor.

Grace Keck has lived in Sharon all her life. She adopted the lot next door. She hopes her efforts will encourage people to buy and stay in Sharon.

"It's sad seeing all of the houses being torn down so we want to keep it going, my grandkids come here. Hopefully they will eventually get houses here too," said Keck.

The program is already gaining in popularity. Last year there were only 35 applications for people to adopt the lot next door, this year already, there's 53.