From Foreclosed Home to Pocket Park

"The city bought the house last year from Wells Fargo for $116,000. The department wants to tailor each park to the community desires, so staffers gave neighbors questionnaires on what amenities they'd like to have. That could mean adding gym equipment or a playground, said Michael Shull, superintendent of planning, construction and maintenance at the Department of Recreation and Parks.

In a handful of cases, the communities asked the city to rebuild the residence rather than replace it with a park, usually because the foreclosed home was located in the middle of the block."