Having achieved success in its blighted-property removal program, and with fewer properties remaining to demolish, the city is taking aim at reviving the neighborhood pride program.

That’s a program geared toward recognizing people who have, as Councilman Richard Schontz Jr. has described, gone “above and beyond to improve their neighborhood.”

The program fell off the city’s radar screen about five years ago — something that should not have happened.

Schontz has said he’d like to see the program re-started by April, which would be a good time, since that’s when people begin spring cleanup.

Schontz said officials are working on the process of how to choose and recognize people deserving of the neighborhood-pride honor. When details of the program are completed, the information should be well publicized throughout the city.

Under the previous program, the city code enforcement office submitted nominations to a committee that chose the honorees. But for the revived program to produce the best results, the city must look beyond eye-pleasing repairs to one reason some people hesitate to invest money in their properties. That is the condition of neighboring properties.

The city must continue encouraging residents — homeowners and renters — to clean up their properties.

For example, porches of some city homes are cluttered with items in a way that detracts from that property — and reflects on neighbors’ homes. Some residents have full garbage bags in plain view on their porches, or stored elsewhere on their properties, acting as an invitation to rodents and creating an unappealing look.

The city should press further for cleanup of nuisance properties. Those who ignore cleanup reminders should be informed they could face charges under the city’s nuisance ordinance.

Paul Snyder, city code enforcement officer, said that takes place, but he said Monday that he did not have the number of such cases pursued last year.

In 2012, the city’s blighted building removal program demolished 15 structures, the most that have been razed since the program began. Meanwhile, private owners tore down 11 structures — seven garages, three houses and one commercial building.

The exteriors of some homes haven’t seen a paintbrush for years, if not decades, but taking on major improvement work such as that could lead to a neighborhood-pride honor.

Likewise, the homes with rotting door frames, deteriorated porches and sidewalks, and unmaintained shrubbery and trees.

In the Main Street business district, the deteriorated front of the Penn Theater property remains an eyesore in close proximity to businesses that have improved their storefronts and buildings. The city should push for progress on that property.

Butler can be proud of what its blight-removal program has accomplished. But with that program winding down — the dem-olition of only about 12 structures is planned for this year — a growing emphasis must shift to nuisance or deteriorated properties for which demolition isn’t necessary.

Moving forward, neighborhood pride must be the next phase to help move Butler in a positive direction.