Three projects in the San Fernando Valley were among eight receiving up to $20,000 in city grant funding as part of the Great Streets Challenge, the city of Los Angeles announced Wednesday. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the Great Streets Initiative in October 2013 to support city neighborhoods by activating public spaces, economic revitalization, enhanced local culture and increased public safety. The events-oriented projects will be rolled out beginning in September through February 2016. Valley projects chosen from the 30 applications received by the city involve increasing foot traffic to Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road by Pacoima Beautiful, an environmental organization, through pop up art spaces, outdoor seating and small parks; a series of performance and art activities by the Northridge Chamber of Commerce on Reseda Boulevard; and three bicycle festivals and public design workshops at the Van Nuys Civic Center Plaza by the Arid Land Institute based at Woodbury University in Burbank. “I’m excited to see how these projects will enhance our effort to create vibrant places where Angelenos can come together as communities,” Garcetti said in a prepared statement. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation will provide $10,000 for each project with the recipients raising additional funds through crowd source platform Ioby. The Great Streets Challenge Grant program will match up to an additional $10,000 of the crowd sourced funding. “These projects will improve safety, health, and fun in Los Angeles neighborhoods,” Transportation Department General Manager Seleta Reynolds said in a prepared statement. “And because they are led and designed by community-based organizations, the results will have a lasting impact on how the city creates partnerships with Angelenos to make streets great.”