WELLNESS PLAN FOR THE EAST BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD Peoria City, IL
Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
September 2016
Instructor: Mary Edwards, Associate Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) Research Assistants: Rachael Wilson and Emily Weimer Students: Allie Goldstein, Cristen Hardin, Natalie Hoke, Taryn Harm, Nathan Lipson, Anna Ma, Oksana Polhuy, Jeremy Shackett, Jaylan Williams and Michael Zearing. DURP students and faculty would like to thank Kathie Brown with University of Illinois Extension, the Peoria Innovation Team, local government staff and officials, local non-profit agencies and the residents of the East Bluff neighborhood for your support and ideas and your generous time and energy. A special thanks to University of Illinois Extension and University of Illinois Office of the Provost for providing the funding to support this important initiative.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary................................................................................1 Introduction.............................................................................................2 Section 1: Review of Health Profile of the East Bluff Neighborhood........4 Section 2: Review of Previous Plans and Analysis of Community-Wide Impact on Wellness..........................5 Section 3: Primary Data Collection.....................................................8 Section 4: Neighborhood Wellness Recommendations......................13 Section 5: Funding Sources...................................................................20
Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Executive Summary
This report uses primary data to make recommendations for neighborhood wellness in the East Bluff neighborhood of Peoria, Illinois. These recommendations focus on improving social capital, improving the food environment, decreasing crime, and increasing physical activity. The first section summarizes The Health Profile of the East Bluff Neighborhood, Peoria City, IL that accompanies this report. The Health Profile is summarized to provide context for health-related issues in the East Bluff. The second section reviews relevant pre-existing plans and initiatives for the city of Peoria and their potential to influence health. The third section analyzes primary data collected through, a Community Health Asset Mapping event, a neighborhood health survey, and interview with employees of East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services (EBNHS), and a walking audit. Data from the Community Health Asset Mapping Event reveals that residents value the Glen Oak Learning Center and the Kroger grocery store as assets in their community. Data from the asset mapping event also shows that residents view corner stores and blight as detrimental to neighborhood health. Data from the survey indicates that East Bluff view low crime/safe neighborhoods, a clean environment, and low speed limits as important factors that contribute to health. The interview with EBNHS employees provides information about the Community Core Initiative, a neighborhood beautification and community cohesion project. The interview also shows employee concerns related to absentee landlords in the East Bluff. Finally, the walking audit highlights both positive and negative features of streets in the East Bluff. The fourth section of the plan presents recommendations informed by primary data presented in this report and secondary data presented in the Health Profile. These recommendations are aimed at increasing social capital, improving the food environment, improving public safety, and improving the build environment to promote physical activity. The last section provides information about possible funding sources for the implementation of recommendations.
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Introduction
Like many other post-industrial cities, Peoria, Illinois has experienced challenges tied to deindustrialization. The city’s thriving manufacturing sector anchored by Caterpillar, Inc. shrank in the 1970s and 1980s. (Reuters, 2009) These changes lead to disinvestment in many working class neighborhoods, including the East Bluff. Due to this disinvestment, many East Bluff workers lost their jobs or fled to newer suburbs on the outer edges of Peoria. More recently, planning initiatives have been directed at improving the quality of life in the East Bluff. The Health Profile that accompanies this report shows the East Bluff neighborhood as a community challenged by poverty and unemployment. However, the neighborhood has important assets that can promote physical and mental health, such as a grocery store, walkable streets and institutions such as the East Bluff Community Center, the Glen Oak Learning Center and the East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services. It is imperative that initiatives aimed at neighborhood improvement in Peoria incorporate factors that positively influence public health. Health outcomes data for Illinois and Peoria County demonstrate that obesity and diseases caused by obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are all increasing in the state and county. These negative health outcomes can lower the quality of live and shorten the life spans of affected individuals. Furthermore, it is expensive to treat obesity and diseases related to it. Diabetes, heart attack, and obesity treatments top the list of American spending on health treatments at over $1.4 billion annually. (Peoria County Health Planning Committee, 2011) Sedentary lifestyles, fast food accessibility, and automobile dependency are contributing factors to these quickly rising trends. A new approach should be taken to reduce negative health outcomes by targeting the variety of factors that influence them. The purpose of this plan is to present recommendations aimed at increasing the wellness of residents of the East Bluff neighborhood. Recommendations focus on improving conditions of the build environment to promote physical activity and reduce crime, improving the food environment, and strengthening social ties in the neighborhood. If adopted, these recommendations will help create an environment that allows East Bluff residents to be physically and mental-
ly healthy.
Defining a Healthy Neighborhood
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely that absence of disease or infirmary”. (Dannenberg et al, 2011) A “healthy place” is somewhere that is designed, built, and programmed to support all of the facets of health for people who live, work, visit and learn, in the place (Urban Land Institute, 2016). More detailed elements of a healthy place include: • Healthy Neighborhood Design and Active Transportation. Many elements of the built environment in a neighborhood influence the health of its residents. For example, high residential density, land use mix, presence of good sidewalks along all streets and bicycle lanes create an environment conducive to walking and bicycling to destinations within a neighborhood. Dependence on cars limits the ability for people to get exercise through active transportation. A healthy neighborhood has high quality accessible and safe infrastructure for using buses, bicycles, and other types of transportation that let people be physically active. Furthermore, the more people use active transportation, the less air pollution they create, which can positively impact the health of neighborhood residents. • Safety. Residents are more likely to use streets if they feel safe doing so. Clear barriers between public and private space and the presence of continuous lighting are essential to the neighborhood safety because they can discourage criminal activity. (Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, 2016). • Healthy Parks and Open Spaces. An integral part of any vibrant community is the presence of well-maintained public spaces, including parks and community gardens. Parks of an adequate size can provide people an opportunity to participate in healthy outdoor activities. Fur2
Introduction
Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
thermore, walking through streets lined with greenery helps people maintain good mental health in addition to the overall physical health. The multiple health benefits of green spaces make them an essential component of a healthy neighborhood. (Dannenberg et al, 2011) • Facilitation of Social Capital. Social capital refers to the bonds that link community members together. These bonds strengthen trust among the community members, increases accountability towards each other, and results in more active engaged neighbors. A healthy community includes many civic organizations, from bowling leagues to PTAs, and offers many opportunities for citizens to work together to solve problems in their community. Social ties can also decrease feelings of depression. (Dannenberg et al, 2011) • Healthy Food Environment. The residents of a healthy neighborhood should be able to access healthy and affordable foods, like fresh fruit and vegetables, within their neighborhood. Ideally, there should be at least one store in a quarterto-half mile walking distance from home. Farmer’s markets, community gardens, and restaurants with healthy meals can be other sources of healthy foods. Conversely, the presence of stores that sell mostly unhealthy foods (corner/ gas station stores, tobacco and alcohol outlets) and fast food chains reduces the quality of the food environment in a neighborhood. (Dannenberg et al, 2011) • Education. Attainment of education levels helps residents receive better jobs, helps to develop a sense of control of one’s life, increases social standing and support, and increases chance of gaining more knowledge and literacy about healthy lifestyles and behaviors. (Braveman, 2011) • Health Facilities. A healthy neighborhood should have health facilities that are accessible to all residents. These facilities should provide care for all health needs, be located nearby, and have programs that can help people of all income levels and insurance coverage.
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Section 1: Review of Health Profile of the East Bluff Neighborhood In order to understand how residents of the East Bluff neighborhood can become healthier, a comprehensive study of factors that shape health was conducted. Health outcome, demographic, socioeconomic, built environment, food, crime, and housing data were gathered and analyzed and are presented in the Health Profile of the East Bluff Neighborhood, Peoria City, IL report.
cheap fast food restaurants, corner stores, and tobacco/alcohol outlets detract from the food environment in the East Bluff. • Crime. Limited crime data shows that the numbers of some forms of crime in the East Bluff fell and others went up from 2013 to 2014. • Health Outcomes and facilities. Data for health outcomes specifically related to the East Bluff neighborhood was limited. However, data concerning sexually transmitted infections and diseases was available. These diseases occur in higher numbers in the East Bluff neighborhood in comparison to the city, county, and the state. The East Bluff has a good number of health facilities inside and directly outside of the neighborhood.
Summary of the Health Profile of the East Bluff Neighborhood Report
• Socioeconomic factors. The East Bluff neighborhood has lower education attainment rates, higher rates of unemployment and poverty, and much lower median household incomes than in the city or the state. All of these factors can lead to ill health. For example, lower incomes may not allow people to afford healthy foods or buy quality health insurance. Furthermore, stress related to poverty can damage mental health. (Dannenberg et al, 2011) • Built environment. The East Bluff is a walkable community with good access to public transportation, However, the neighborhood has high levels of traffic that can lead to high concentration of traffic accidents and air pollution. Furthermore, lack of bicycle infrastructure and access to outdoor spaces within a walking distance limits opportunities for physical activity. • Housing conditions. The East Bluff is comprised of older housing stock; this means there is a higher chance that these houses may have lead paint. Furthermore, there is a high level of cost burden for renters, and lower homeownership rates in the neighborhood. Home values are also lower in the neighborhood as compared to the city and state. • Social capital. Numerous institutions, neighborhood organizations and city programs serve the East Bluff neighborhood. They have the potential to foster relationship-building among the residents. • Food environment. Only one large grocery store in the middle of the neighborhood sells fresh produce. A great number of easily accessible 4
Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Section 2: Review of Previous Plans and Analysis of Community-Wide Impact on Wellness
The Grow Peoria Comprehensive Plan, 2011
This section summarizes previous documents and planning initiatives for Peoria and analyzes their potential for positive impacts on the health and wellbeing of East Bluff residents. Table 1 summarizes which plans address health needs of East Bluff residents and which plans do not. Adult education, youth engagement, and traffic calming needs are not discussed in any plans. Some health factors such as garbage management, increasing landlords’ investment in properties in the East Bluff, access to healthy foods and parks within walking distance, and need for street improvements within the neighborhood are touched on in a few plans, but with few implementation strategies. Other health needs such as built environment improvements are discussed in detail by existing plans.
This plan encompasses the entire city. It sets a general direction for the city’s future, East Bluff being a part of it. The plan lists some opportunities that can improve residents’ health. The plan also presents action items for reinvesting in neighborhoods using urban agriculture, tree plans, litter law enforcement, and crime reduction.
• Presents action items for supporting sustainability with green edge plans, street trees, bike parking requirements, urban farming, recycling, and improved recreational activities. • Rates “Health” 2nd on a satisfaction scale with 5.76 out of 10 points. • Lists “Healthcare” as a strength of the city. • Includes “Involve the Citizenry” in the planning process. • Focuses on increasing employment opportunities.
Table 1: Existing Plans
This plan also shows that the city may face challenges related to health: • Rates “Health” 6th on the Relative Importance scale with 3.98 out of 10. • Lists “Poor Water Quality in the Illinois River”, “Lack of Transportation Choices”, and “Lack of Community Pride and Poor Self-Image” within its weaknesses of the city.
Heart of Peoria Plan, 2003
This plan focuses on the revitalization of Peoria’s downtown area, it recommends that the area be re-developed and re-zoned in order to create a more efficient, safe, and appealing downtown district. The East Bluff is part of the area included in the “heart of Peoria”. Opportunities for healthy improvements to the built environment: • The plan proposes re-development of the downtown area with an emphasis on bicycle and pedestrian safety, allowing for other modes of 5
Section 2
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transportation aside from cars. The plan aims to create TIF districts to assemble the necessary resources for these public improvements in the downtown area, which will improve safety, health, and walkability of the downtown area. The general recommendation of this plan is for the city to re-organize and streamline the existing zoning code using a transect-based system, and adding more mixed-use developments and walkable streets, as well as an active, inviting environment to the downtown area. The mixed use of land accessible by walking and bicycling can create an opportunity for people to use active transportation and stay physically fit. Regulating Plan: The regulating plan aims to re-work the current land use plan in order to establish a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use character of the downtown core; it accommodates a more urban pattern along the downtown waterfront; it protects and enhances the character of the in-town residential neighborhoods, and re-directs automobile oriented development. A/B Street Frontage Assignment: This recommendation focuses on which streets should be directed toward pedestrian-oriented use and which should be allowed to maintain their orientation toward automobile use (i.e. parking garage entrances, drive-through windows, etc.). Parking Management Plan: This section recommends that the city adapt parking requirements for downtown development projects, as they are currently inconvenient and unnecessary. Neighborhood Centers: This recommendation focuses in adjusting zoning codes to support and encourage development for locations of neighborhood-oriented retail and services; link redevelopment of neighborhood centers closely with community-based solutions to neighborhood problems and to the enhancement of community policing.
• The plan also recommends a system of mandatory licensing for landlords, excluding owner-occupied rentals. Opportunities for social capital improvements: • Community Anchor: the plan encourages development of model neighborhood centers as “community anchors” through public-private partnerships. The plan also encourages redevelopment of the centers of Peoria’s urban neighborhoods. • The plan recommends that the city pursue a consolidation of neighborhood-based leadership into a smaller number of encompassing organizations and consolidates neighborhood leadership with concrete neighborhood enhancement programs focused on specific projects. • The plan also encourages the continuation and expansion of programs to strengthen Peoria’s well-located historic schools, using available funds to renovate and enhance rather than consolidate or replace these schools; renovation should prioritize restoration of the glass in windows. Opportunities for crime prevention improvements: • Community Policing: The plan recommends that the city take seriously the recommendations that appear in neighborhood plans, institute an ambitious and rigorously implemented program for community policing; continue and enhance programs that emphasize a coordinated approach to the problems of neighborhood decay—code enforcement, public works, planning, and the police department.
Peoria Bicycle Master Plan, 2016
The purpose of this plan is to guide future investments in infrastructure towards building a more bikeable environment in the City of Peoria. Recommended infrastructure elements include lane markings, bicycle boulevards, end-of-trip facilities, and so on. The goals presented would lead to an increase in safety and comfort, an increase in connectivity, and a decrease in the overall number of miles associated with vehicular travel. Overall, the plan would transform the city into a bicycling destination. Increasing bike infrastructure would address a variety of issues prevalent in the city, such as obesity, roadway congestion, environmental concerns, and infrastructure costs. The plan includes development of bicycle infrastructure in the East Bluff
Opportunities for housing improvements: • YWCA Housing: The plan recommends that the city re-design housing according to the principles outlined in this plan, take advantage of the opportunity to reinforce the development of a neighborhood center. • Neighborhood Code Enforcement System: The plan proposes that the city institute a system for issuing tickets for a variety of specific code violations relevant to the quality of life in the neighborhoods. 6
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neighborhood including bicycle lane markings on Wisconsin and Nebraska, buffered lanes on Prospect, and a bicycle boulevard on North Peoria Avenue.
• Increase Neighborhood Involvement: create a means of increasing neighborhood communication. • Curtail Crime: continue increased police presence. • Improve Infrastructure: continue sidewalk improvements within the Impact Zone.
Peoria Warehouse District Implementation Plan, 2012 As indicated in the Heart of Peoria Plan, the Warehouse District was noted as a targeted area for potential development in the New Urbanist style. After being designated in a TIF district in 2007, it obtained the fiscal structure to implement some key changes in marketing, business development and community engagement. While this area is not in the East Bluff, it is located nearby and may present employment opportunities in the future that East Bluff residents could take advantage of.
Rethinking the Wisconsin Business Corridor, 2014
This community development plan was initiated to restore the corridor’s vitality as a commercial district centrally located within the East Bluff neighborhood. In the past, the avenue was a stopping point for public transit and an attractive location for a growing population. However, as the area became more distressed, several outlets closed and were not subsequently replaced, leaving a hole in neighborhood revenue and services. Recently, this commercial area has experienced some growth in response to the increase in the Hispanic population. This plan integrates new businesses into a larger improvement process to create greater access, improve curb appeal, and foster additional businesses. Some of the proposed improvements can help in creating a healthier East Bluff.
The East Village Growth Cell Tax Increment Financing District Housing Program, 2016
The goal of this TIF matching grant program is to provide assistance to property owners, including those living in the East Bluff, to complete home improvements in an effort to prevent deteriorating structures from becoming a health and safety hazard to occupants and surrounding residents. The program also aims to alleviate substandard housing that can detract from the overall appearance of the neighborhood and negatively affect already low property values. With this program in place, the quality of life in the East Bluff can be improved through preservation and enhancement of private goods. However, this program is limited by who can get funding and what home improvements are eligible for funding, and the process the applicant must go through to obtain funding. These limitations may put more stress on residents who could benefit from assistance.
The plan seeks to: • Improve the overall health environment by adding bike lanes and new sidewalks. • Support healthier lifestyles with mixed-use, traffic calming practices, murals, a greater number of litterbins, and the addition of vehicular and pedestrian lighting. • Improve access to Kroger for healthy and affordable food options.
Glen Oak Zone Action Plan, 2011
This plan recommends revitalization of the Glen Oak Impact Zone that surrounds the Glen Oak Learning Center within the East Bluff to make the area more dynamic, appealing, and affordable (Glen Oak Zone Action Plan 2011, 2010). The plan aims to: • Increase homeownership: encourage families to purchase homes in the Glen Oak Impact Zone. • Revitalize the Wisconsin Avenue Business District: improve building facades, make Wisconsin Avenue Business District a Destination. 7
Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Section 3: Primary Data Collection
To gain a full understanding of issues concerning health in the East Bluff, researchers used public engagement techniques including a Community Health Asset Mapping event, a Neighborhood Health survey, and in-person interviews with employees of East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services (EBNHS). Finally, a walk audit was conducted to assess the condition of the build environment in the neighborhood.
different opinions among the community members concerning ratings, all opinions were gathered and marked on the map. Due to this, some markers have several colors to reflect difference in opinions.
Figure 1: Community Health Asset Map
Primary Data: Community Health Asset Mapping Community Asset Mapping provides information about a community’s assets from the perspective of residents and stakeholders. (Participatory Asset Mapping, 2012) Researchers organized a “Community Health Asset Mapping” event for East Bluff residents and stakeholders at the East Bluff Community Center Gymnasium on March 12, 2016. The intention of this event was to empower residents and other stakeholders connected to the East Bluff to think about their neighborhood through the lens of public health, and to allow them to share knowledge that could be incorporated into this Wellness Plan. Researchers hoped to find out answers to the following questions: • What sorts of places exist in the East Bluff that help to make the it a healthier place? • What could be improved? • What detracts from public health in the neighborhood? Participants worked to create a physical map of local places and their impact on health. They were asked to rate places in four categories: health facilities and services, places with food, places for social interaction, and unhealthy or unsafe places. Participants were encouraged to rate places based on quality and accessibility. Participants used a scale 1-3 for rating, with “1” being a “healthy place”, “2” being a “somewhat healthy place”, and “3” being an “unhealthy place”. The results of the mapping exercise are gathered in the map in Figure 1. The color markings correspond to the following rating scale: 1 – green, 2 – orange, 3 – red. If there were
Participant Opinions: The following paragraphs present major themes identified from participant comments during the community asset mapping session. A full description of participant opinions is provided in Appendix D.
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Primary Data: Neighborhood Health Survey
Neighborhood Health Assets: Glen Oak Learning Center: Comments concerning the Glen Oak Learning Center positioned it as a place that holds the community together. According to a participant, the school became a catalyst for community action and the development of a neighborhood association when the city decided to move the school in 2008. The community rose up and protested this decision. The city council took notice, and changed their plans. The school was rebuilt in its original location.
A survey was conducted among the East Bluff residents about their opinions related to a healthy neighborhood. The survey was open online from March 22, 2016 through April 20, 2016. A total of 27 people responded to 29 questions that sought to gain insight about conditions of the built environment, social interaction, safety, access to nutritious food, and respondents’ knowledge about healthy lifestyles. The majority of participants were women 45 years old or older. While the sample size is somewhat small, the survey gave some interesting insights that matched the findings from the Community Health Asset Mapping session and the interviews. A comprehensive analysis of the survey is presented in Appendix A, and a summary of the survey responses is presented below.
Kroger: Kroger was identified as a clean, friendly grocery store where residents can reasonably obtain all of the foods they need. Kroger has affordable healthy food options along with a pharmacy, and was given a rating of one by all participants. Participants discussed that Kroger is the only grocery store south of Forrest Hill, which was said to be a sort of “dividing line” between wealthy and under-resourced areas of the city.
Built Environment and Safety • The top three factors for good health rated by the East Bluff respondents were: low crime/ safe neighborhood, clean environment, and low speed limits.
Neighborhood Health Detractors: Convenience Stores: Convenience stores were a commonly discussed detractor for the neighborhood, and were given ratings of two or three. According to residents, they sell unhealthy foods and tobacco products, and some are located close to the Glen Oak Learning Center. This attracts students to buy unhealthy foods. The store at Arcadia and Knoxville attracts many students in particular, and is a location for loitering and gang activity. A new convenience store is opening at Forrest Hill and Wisconsin just outside of the neighborhood.
• Glen Oak Park, the only major park close to the East Bluff, was rated on a scale from ‘poor’ to ‘very good’ on several criteria. More than a half of respondents rated safety, good play environment, pleasant landscaping, shade, and seating area for rest, as good or very good. More than a half of respondents rated lighting, adequate amount of bicycle racks, cleanliness and an adequate amount of garbage cans as adequate or poor. Bicycle racks got the worst rating, and several residents said that if there were more bicycle racks, more people would visit the park. Other suggestions for park improvement included increasing events in the park and dedicating places for dog walking.
Poorly Maintained Properties: Participants expressed concerns about absentee landlords in the neighborhood. According to some residents, these landlords do not maintain their properties, and only care about the money they can make off their tenants Furthermore, participants recognized that some homeowners do not keep up their properties, which creates blight.
• Almost 83% of respondents indicated that they walk or jog to stay physically fit. 60-65% walk a dog, and 22% walk to get to a destination. Only 16% walk or jog five or more times a week. Respondents cited crime and lack of destinations to as the main factors that deter 9
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Access to Food
them from walking or jogging more. • About 40% of respondents bicycle, most of whom bicycle for fitness reasons once a week. The respondents indicated that they would bike more if there were designated bicycle trails and if they felt safe from cars. Respondents also indicated that they would bicycle and walk to their work place, grocery stores, and other destinations if they could.
• 75 % of respondents get to the grocery store by car and none used public transportation. • 95 % of respondents would prefer to use a car to get to a grocery store while the rest preferred walking. Even though half of respondents live in a walking distance from the grocery store (less than half a mile), the preference for using a car remains because it is difficult to carry the groceries back home.
• During daytime, most people feel safe in the neighborhood with only 9% feeling somewhat unsafe. At night, the share of the respondents who feel unsafe or somewhat unsafe goes up to 64%.
• If respondent were to walk to a grocery store, about 80% would do it if walking would last 20 minutes or less.
Social Interactions • More than a half of respondents ranked the following as important or most important social activities for their community: positive youth recreational activities and access to programs that increase adult educational attainment and employment opportunities. Most respondents rated community groups or neighborhood associations as somewhat important. The majority of respondents would like to see these social activities improved. Finally, half of the respondents ranked local churches and public spaces that encourage community interaction as not very important or not important at all. • About 40 % of respondents knew their neighbors very well, other 40% know who the neighbors were but didn’t “know” them, and the rest know their neighbors in passing or didn’t know them at all. • Three quarters of respondents participated in some activity to solve a community problem in the past year. This statistic shows a great potential for community engagement. However, these people may have replied to the survey because they are already active members of their community and therefore may not reflect the entire neighborhood. 10
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Primary Data: Interview with East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Service employees
this is especially problematic in the East Bluff because many properties were built before the World War II era, and are badly in need of improvements. Furthermore, an employee explained that while EBNHS maintains ties with the City of Peoria’s code enforcement department and local legal services, many tenants lack the knowledge of acceptable landlord behavior and of their rights as tenants. This employee believed that residents currently renting from absentee landlords could benefit from increased awareness of the programs and services available to support them. Another employee noted that during summer months, children tend to engage in more mischief due to boredom. To address this, EBNHS has begun an effort to connect East Bluff youth to summer jobs in an attempt to give them increased responsibilities and from neighborhood ties. Other informal volunteer programs currently exist that help at-risk youth participate in bettering their community, but EBNHS employees would like to see an expansion of these programs.
An interview was conducted with three employees of the East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services (EBNHS) to gain an understanding of the role that this institution plays in the neighborhood. When asked about current programming out of the EBNHS, the employees highlighted The Community Core Initiative. The Community Core Initiative was created through a partnership between the EBNHS and Greater Peoria LISC, and has been an invaluable catalyst for community change in the neighborhood. The Community Core Initiative has provided resources for blight reduction and curb appeal. The initiative has also inspired residents to be vigilant in looking out for the neighborhood, which has led to a 25% overall reduction in crime and a 50% reduction in vandalism and home invasion. Additionally, because of the initiative, EBNHS’ reputation within the neighborhood improved. Their traffic has increased by at least 50 percent. At first, the EBNHS employees found it difficult to earn the residents’ trust concerning the Community Core Initiative. Some community members were skeptical and thought the program was too good to be true. Others had privacy concerns. However, community outreach and exposure to the benefits of the program led to widespread acceptance of the Community Core Initiative. The employees were also asked what they believed a neighborhood needed to be healthy. To quote one employee: “...probably what I would consider a healthy neighborhood...if everybody knows each other and we’re willing to be outside and just be in the fresh air together, you feel better, you feel safer, you feel happier, all of that if you’re out and about and you know who you live with.” This indicates the value that this employee places on social capital. Another employee noted that resources make a community healthy. This employee perceived that the East Bluff is fortunate to have assets such as Kroger and smaller shops where money can flow through the neighborhood. There are also numerous food pantries for residents to use if needed. When the employees were asked about challenges in the neighborhood, key issues of concern were absentee landlords and lack of youth programs. One employee explained that homeownership has declined in East Bluff. They went on to describe that it is common for landlords from outside the city step in and collect rents on East Bluff properties without investing in capital improvements. According to this employee, 11
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Primary Data: Walk Audit
elements that add comfort and appeal such as high tree density, well-maintained landscaping and lack of graffiti or run-down buildings. However, many routes had litter on the street and lacked benches. Some routes needed trees for shade and better landscape maintenance. • Active Transportation Infrastructure. Bike racks and bus shelters are missing. There were two bus stops spotted on all routes. Bicycle infrastructure is needed because a few bicyclists were spotted using the already sidewalks that were already too narrow for pedestrians, competing with pedestrians for space.
A walk audit was conducted on streets across the East Bluff neighborhood in April 2016. The Community Health Asset Mapping activity revealed that some East Bluff residents viewed particular streets and intersections in the neighborhood as unsafe or unhealthy. In addition to this, the collisions report discussed in the Health Profile shows that a larger number of car, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes happened in the East Bluff in general. The routes chosen for this audit purposefully incorporated intersections where some of these crashes have occurred. The map in Figure 2 shows the location of routes chosen for the audit. A number of features were assessed during the audit including:
Figure 2: Walk Audit Routes
• Street intersections/crossings • Sidewalks • Active Transportation infrastructure (bicycle, bus) • Drivers’ behavior • Street safety • Comfort and appeal of the streets Appendix B includes a detailed breakdown of the positive and negative features on each route within each category. Below is the summary of the walk audit findings: • Street intersections/crossings. All routes have problems with intersections and crossings. The most common problems include the lack of crossing markings and pedestrian signals, long traffic stop signals that make pedestrians wait to cross and a lack of medians on some roads. • Sidewalks. All routes have problems with sidewalks. The most common problems include cracked/broken segments of the sidewalks and lack of ramps and textured curb cuts. Some streets have sidewalks that are too narrow and lack buffers between the sidewalk and the road. • Driver’s behavior. Most drivers yielded to pedestrians and obeyed the traffic signals. However, a few problems with drivers’ behavior were spotted on all routes. The most common issues were distracted driving, unexpected maneuvers, not looking before backing out of the driveway, and occasional rolling through the stop sign or not stopping before the crosswalk. • Safety. Some routes had safety problems such as speeding cars, intense traffic, potential hiding places and obstructed views of what is up ahead. • Comfort and appeal. Many routes had positive 12
Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Section 4: Neighborhood Wellness Recommendations The analysis of existing health factors in the East Bluff neighborhood presented in the Health Profile show that the East Bluff has some elements of a healthy neighborhood including the presence of neighborhood organizations and institutions, access to the health facilities, walkable streets, and access to a grocery store with fresh produce. The following recommendations for improvements are based on data in the Health Profile as well as data collected through the survey, the community health asset mapping session, the walk audit, and the interview with EBNHS representatives. The recommendations in this section can further promote the health and wellbeing of East Bluff residents. Recommendations are categorized into four dimensions: social capital, healthy food, crime prevention and the built environment.
initiatives to implement that are best suited to their needs. Below are some initiatives that the community could implement: o Improve the community’s awareness about local services and resources available. o Encourage more residents to reflect on how they themselves can contribute to building social capital in their neighborhood. o Encourage residents to participate in decision-making processes that affect the community, and volunteer in programs and organizations that serve the community. o Develop a reciprocity time-swap program where residents can offer a favor/service(s) to a neighbor in exchange for time earned to receive a favor/service(s) from the same or another neighbor. o Create a Neighborhood Nights program and host events that bring neighbors together over food and entertainment in a positive environment to interact, learn more about each other, and build trust relationships. o Implement a tree-planting program with educational component for children. o Implement an annual neighborhood cleanup and beautification event. o Hold regular community-wide meetings in which community issues, solutions and goals are discussed. o Make community gardening a community project where people of all ages are involved: ● Work with the Glen Oak Learning Center to give students opportunity to work in community gardens. ● Adults can teach the youth about where their food comes from and how to make healthier eating choices. o The proximity of East Bluff to renowned medical facilities could be taken advantage of through an increase in hospital-community partnerships. Perhaps youth employment, health education or community gardening programs could be run out of the hospitals in the East Bluff. Community members could also work with the hospitals to incorporate hospital programming into the East Bluff Community Center. o The Harvard University Kennedy School of Govern-
Social Capital
Social Capital describes the networks, interactions, and resources that can be accessed by individuals and groups to inspire trust, connections and reciprocity among citizens. High levels of community engagement and relationship-building can have positive effects on the health and wellbeing of individuals and on a community as a whole. (Dannenberg et al, 2011) Community engagement is most prevalent when strong social ties and networks of trust exist within the community. Building social capital is the key to bridging the barriers to community engagement and connecting residents to programs and initiatives that can make East Bluff a healthier community. Community programming and supporting local businesses are two strategies that can be employed to enhance social capital in the East Bluff.
Recommendation: Community Programming East Bluff Neighborhood Associations should work together as one to facilitate the community’s development of a social capital vision and launch a community-wide social capital building campaign, East Bluff Better Together. There should be an initial social capital building workshop conducted by the neighborhood associations to teach residents about the significance of social capital in making East Bluff a healthier community. The community can then plan and decide which 13
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
ment also presents a helpful social capital building toolkit to help communities learn and think about what social capital means in their neighborhood and have the ability to effectively plan and decide which approaches to building social capital are best for the community. (Harvard University, 2006)
Food Environment
The East Bluff neighborhood has both positive and negative features in its food environment. The Kroger located near the corner of Arcadia and Wisconsin is nestled in the heart of the neighborhood. With an abundance of fruits and vegetables in addition to other necessary ingredients, Kroger has all the essentials required for residents to eat healthy. However, residents of the East Bluff also have access to fast food restaurants, corner stores, and bars that make unhealthy food, tobacco, and alcohol readily available. The many charitable food locations such as food pantries, food banks, and free lunch locations are a strength for the community. However, most food banks do not include produce as an option as it is not cost effective. Furthermore, the neighborhood lacks nearby farmer’s markets or produce trucks.
Recommendation: Local Businesses Social capital can also be enhanced by supporting and growing local business. Many participants of the Community Health Asset Mapping Session identified local businesses such as barber and beauty shops as locations for socialization and community-building. More small businesses such as coffee shops should be steered toward the area to create spaces for community building and to increase the vibrancy of the neighborhood.
Recommendation: Transform Vacant Lots To better the health of the residents, changes to the built environment must include increases in the availability of healthful food. Vacant lots scattered throughout the area are a seemingly negative aspect of the East Bluff neighborhood. In order to increase access to healthy food and reduce blight in the neighborhood, the city of Peoria should place a seasonal farmer’s market in East Bluff’s vacant lots. Figure 3 shows a map representing the vacant lots within the community’s core. A central lot within the community should be used for the farmer’s market. Fresh produce should be available to any neighborhood resident, and a central location within the community core will ensure that the farmers market is accessible to the maximum amount of residents within the East Bluff. An alternative location for the farmer’s market could be the parking lot of the East Bluff Community Center. Many people choose to eat fast food simply due to its cost efficiency compared to restaurants that offer healthy options. Because if this, the Farmer’s Market should accept SNAP.
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
sedentary lifestyle, along with the ability to prepare healthy meals. By taking these steps, East Bluff residents can increase their healthy food intake and improve their lives.
Figure 3: Vacant Lots
A number of programs in the Midwest have been created to encourage growth of urban farms, community gardens, kids’ education about healthy foods, small corner stores that sell fresh produce, and other community-based healthy food initiatives. More details about these programs can be found in Appendix C. Executing initiatives from the examples in Appendix C in the East Bluff could increase access to healthy food, increase social capital and improve economic opportunities in the neighborhood.
Recommendation: Neighborhood Unit Planning Strengthening social capital and improving the food environment in the East Bluff could be accomplished using Clarence Perry’s “Neighborhood Unit” model [Figure 4. ] This model was developed in response to a perceived decay of urban fabric in 1920s. The model is primarily based around the idea of centralizing neighborhood institutions such as community centers, churches, and schools; these centrally located structures theoretically would be within a ten-minute walk from all areas of the neighborhood. Additionally, Perry’s model calls for at least 10% of institutional land to be used for recreation and/or open space. This model matches many other modern concepts of creating a sustainable and healthy neighborhood, and it could be used as a way to unite social programs and a healthy built environment use under one framework.
Recommendation: Community Education The city of Peoria should fund initiatives that educate residents about the potential dangers of living unhealthy lifestyles and methods of healthy living. For example, diabetes resulting from obesity is a potential threat to individuals who do not understand the importance of eating healthy food. Everyday eating at unhealthy restaurants and corner stores found in East Bluff can contribute to weight gain within the community. The city should work to provide cooking classes in addition to health education. Such programs would greatly increase residents’ ability to incorporate a healthy diet.
For example, the most central location in the East Bluff is represented as a black dot on the map in Figure 5. The first circle is a 5-minute walk radius to this location, and the larger circle is a 10-minute walk radius. The 10-minute walk radius circle shows that most residencies within the East Bluff can roughly reach the central spot within the neighborhood in 10 minutes by walking, which matches most sustainable neighborhood concepts. The existing school and neighborhood organizations are located near the central spot. Their central location is beneficial for the community. These institutions and organizations should consider planning coordinated community events to strengthen neighborhood’s social capital. Furthermore, a number of vacant parcels are located close to the central spot in the East Bluff. The empty parcels could be used to create parks and community gardens or to host a farmer’s market.
With more access to healthy, fresh food in the neighborhood, residents will have the opportunity to obtain this food without a long drive, walk, or bus ride to another area of the city. Educating residents concerning healthy eating will give them tools to understand the risks of eating unhealthy food and living a 15
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)
Figure 4: “The Neighborhood Unit� model as illustrated by Perry.
Although employees from the East Bluff Community Center stated that significant progress has been made in the East Bluff community to address crime, some participants of the Community Asset Mapping activity identified crime as an enduring problem for the neighborhood. To improve safety in East Bluff, planners working in the East Bluff neighborhood should look to implement crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles in future development plans. CPTED is a multi-disciplinary mechanism used to deter criminal behavior through the built environment. CPTED has four key principles: natural access control, natural surveillance, territoriality, and maintenance. Each of these principles play a vital role in deterring criminal actions. (CPTED Design Guidelines, 2016) Natural access control encompasses the idea of using property barriers such as fences, gates, doors, keypad entry systems, etcetera. When these features are incorporated into the design of a property, they make the property appear to be risky and more difficult to breach.
Figure 5: East Bluff Central Location
Natural surveillance focuses on creating high visibility in an area. Built characteristics such as see through barriers and plenty of lighting during the nighttime can deter potential offenders from committing a crime. Territoriality focuses on defining the difference between private and public space. This is usually achieved through signage, installing of natural barriers, and good property maintenance. When these aspects are incorporated on private property, potential offenders are less inclined to commit criminal acts, as the space is clearly defined as private and it can be assumed that the property owner is most likely taking the necessary precautions to prevent crime. Lastly, maintenance and management can be thought of as an extension to territoriality. The more effort a property owner puts towards up keeping their property, the less likely it is that there will be criminal activity in that area. For example, if an area is dilapidated and 16
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Built Environment
seems abandoned, potential offenders are more than likely to occupy the space as it would seem that less people are around to report criminal activity.
Complete Streets
According to the National Complete Streets Coalition, complete streets are streets that are designed and operated in a safe way for all users - pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists - regardless of age, disabilities conditions, income, race or ethnicity. Complete streets allow people to reach destinations using different travel modes safely. They also bring other benefits like decreasing transportation costs for many families, improving health and fostering stronger communities. (Smart Growth America, 2016)
Recommendation: CPTED Incorporating CPTED principals in the East Bluff community can improve safety. Residents can contribute to CPTED by assuring that their properties well maintained. In addition, the city should provide better street lighting in the community and work to transform any abandoned property into highly visible gathering space for residents. The city should also prepare Educational materials for building owners, managers and residents that detail the principles of CPTED along with ideas for implementing these principles.
Complete streets can have different looks depending on the included features. Below is a list of some common elements of the complete streets: • • • • • • • •
Wide sidewalks Sidewalk buffers from the roads Bicycle lanes Road medians Bus only lanes Roundabouts Accessible and comfortable transit stops Curb extensions
The city of Peoria has adopted a complete streets policy. According to the policy, “The city shall develop a safe, reliable, efficient, integrated and connected multimodal transportation system that will promote access, mobility and health for all users, and will provide for the safety and convenience of all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, users of mass transit, people of all ages and abilities, motorists, emergency responders, freight providers and adjacent land users.” (Municode Library, 2016) Knoxville, Wisconsin, and Prospect Avenue that go through the East Bluff neighborhood and have many destinations, but lack elements that would allow people to reach these destinations safely, unless they drive. The neighborhood and the city would greatly benefit from if the complete streets policy was applied to these three streets.
Recommendation: Complete Streets for Knoxville Avenue Knoxville Avenue has restaurants, shops, and various services that people should be able to access safely using transportation modes other than automobiles. 17
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Knoxville Avenue should be redesigned using the following recommendations:
• Encourage businesses along Knoxville Ave to install bike racks. Just like cars have their parking spots, bicyclists should have theirs.
• Expand the sidewalk to be at least 6 feet wide if ending at at the curb or add a foot-long buffer between the 5-feet-minimum sidewalk and the curb (FHWA, 2016) Add a green buffer between the sidewalk and the road.Add trees along the road (especially easternside) to increase its appeal and add shade for comfort. • Add bicycle lanes to the road. • Add medians to the roads so that pedestrians can have a safe spot to wait while crossing the wide road
Proposed Design of Knoxville Avenue The 66 feet of existing sidewalks and road space can be redesigned in several ways to meet the needs of all users throughout different portions of Knoxville avenue while making it a pleasant and safe place for everyone. The most desirable street design between the intersections could look like the image presented in Figure 7. In Figure 7, the width of a sidewalk is comfortable for two or more pedestrians, there is a buffer and pleasant
Figure 6: Knoxville Avenue Today
Figure 7: Proposed Imprevements to Knoxville Ave
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Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Figure 8: Proposed Turn Lanes
Figure 9: Proposed Bus Stop Configuration
Image sources: These images were made with an online tool http://streetmix.net/. be widened at a time to fit in a bus shelter.
landscaping between the sidewalk and the road. Also, a bicycle lane creates space for the bicyclists and creates an additional buffer between pedestrians and traffic. Finally, a median in the middle of the road can be used by pedestrians who need to cross the road and have space to wait between the moving traffic. Figure 8 shows that at the intersections, the buffer space can be switched to a turning lane for cars. Finally, the street can change where there is a bus stop (Knoxville and Thrush Ave.) to the configuration displayed in Figure 9. The bus stops do not face each other from the opposite sides of the street, so only one sidewalk along the avenue can 19
Wellness Plan for the East Bluff Neighborhood
Section 5: Funding Sources
The following list provides information about possible sources of funding for healthy neighborhood improvements in the East Bluff.
The programs include the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program. This funds projects which will provide new recreational facilities such as parks and playgrounds.” (IDNR Architecture Engineering and Grants, 2016)
KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is a national non-profit dedicated to bringing balanced and active play into the daily lives of all kids, particularly those growing up in poverty in America.” It awards grants to communities to provide more opportunities for youth recreational spaces and programs. It also assists local community groups and local government with planning and implementation of new play spaces. (KaBOOM, 2016)
Safe Routes to School (Illinois)
The Safe Routes to School mission is to improve walking and bicycling conditions for students to be able to walk or bicycle to school. It gives grants to improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in neighborhoods near schools. (SRTS, 2016) Efforts to procure grant are already underway in Peoria.
Tony Hawk Foundation
The Tony Hawk foundation was created to serve children across the United States “who did not have a safe, legal place to skate and in some cases arrested for skating on public property”. This foundation awards communities with money to create public skate parks. (Tony Hawk Foundation, 2016) This could potentially be a unique recreational activity and a fun active way to engage youth.
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)
According to the IDNR, “Grant Administration is responsible for managing and coordinating the Department’s various recreational Grants-in-Aid programs to local government entities. These programs provide federal and state funds to enhance and improve recreational amenities through a competitive selection process. 20
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References
Braveman, P. E. The Social Determinant of Health: Coming of Age. Annual Reviews of Public Health (32), 381-398. 2011.
IDNR Architecture Engineering and Grants. Grant Administration. 2016. Retrieved from <http://www.dnr. illinois.gov/AEG/Pages/Grant-Administration.aspx>.
Dannenberg, Andrew L., Howard Frumkin, and Richard Jackson. Making Healthy Places: Designing and Building for Health, Well-being, and Sustainability. Washington, D.C.: Island, 2011.
KaBOOM! About Us. 2016. Retrieved from <https:// kaboom.org/about_kaboom>.
Municode Library. Article XXI: Complete Streets Policy. 2016. Retrieved from <https://www.municode.com/ library/il/peoria/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH28TRMOVE_ARTXIICOSTPO>.
FHWA. Walkways, Sidewalks, and Public Spaces. Retrieved from <http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/univcourse/pdf/swless13.pdf>.
Peoria County Health Planning Committee. 2011 Peoria Community Health Needs & Assessment Plan pg 52. 2011-2016 Retrieved from http://www.peoriacounty. org/download/?path=%2Fpcchd%2FIPLAN_MAPP%2FIPLAN_July2011_MainDocument.pdf
City of Peoria. East Village Growth Cell Tax Increment Financing District Housing Program. 2016 City of Peoria. Glen Oak Zone Action Plan. 2011
Peoria Community Health Indicator Report, 2015 Public Health Department. Retrieved from http://www. peoriacounty.org/
City of Peoria. Grow Peoria Comprehensive Plan. 2011 City of Peoria Economic Development Department. Heart of Peoria Plan. 2003
Reuters. How’s the downturn playing in Peoria? August 20, 2009. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/ article/us-usa-recession-peoria-analysis-idUSTRE57J74F20090821
City of Peoria. Peoria Bicycle Master Plan. 2016 City of Peoria. Peoria Warehouse District Implementation Plan. 2012
Safe Routes to School. Illinois Safe Routes to School (SRTS). 2016. Retrieved from <http://www.idot.illinois. gov/transportation-system/local-transportation-partners/county-engineers-and-local-public-agencies/saferoutes-to-school/index>.
City of Peoria. Rethinking the Wisconsin Business Corridor. 2014 CPTED Design Guidelines. Four CPTED Design Guidelines. 2016. Retrieved from <http://cptedsecurity. com/cpted_design_guidelines.htm>.
Smart Growth America. What Are Complete Streets? 2016. Retrieved from: http://www.smartgrowthamerica. org/complete-streets/complete-streets-fundamentals/ complete-streets-faq
Healthy City. Participatory Asset Mapping Toolkit. 2012. Retrieved from http://www.communityscience. com/knowledge4equity/AssetMappingToolkit.pdf
The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention. 2016. Retrieved from (http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/people/academic_research/david_farrington/lightsw.pdf)
Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. Social Capital Toolkit. 2006. Retrieved from https://www.hks.harvard.edu/saguaro/pdfs/skbuildingtoolkitversion1.2.pdf
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Tony Hawk Foundation. About Us. 2016. Retrieved from <http://tonyhawkfoundation.org/about/>. Urban Land Institute. Intersections: Health and the Built Environment. 2016. Retrieved from (http://uli. org/wp-content/uploads/ULI-Documents/Intersections-Health-and-the-Built-Environment.pdf) Background: Screenshot of the East Bluff neighborhood from Google Earth.
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Appendix A Survey Results Built Environment Health Factors Question: Below are some factors that contribute to a healthy community. Choose the top three factors that you think are most important to the East Bluff Neighborhood. Residents were asked to rank the top three factors they think contribute to a healthy community and which are most important to the East Bluff neighborhood. The most popular factors include low crime and safe neighborhoods, a clean environment, and low speed limits. The “other” category was specified as access to affordable clean and safe housing, having cameras on corner light posts looking out for youth vandalism, consistently enforcing consequences and parental attachment of responsibility, and monitoring the amount of flagrant drug transactions from both auto and foot traffic. Another suggestion was to update and enforce youth curfew as well as monitor gangs of kids throwing rocks at cars on Wisconsin and Nebraska. A participant stated their car was hit two weeks ago on Nebraska. This participant wants curfew enforced so that kids are stopped and asked for identification after curfew hours and then placed in custody until a parent comes to reclaim them. Glen Oak Park Question: Please rate this park for the following characteristics The participants rated the Glen Oak Park for the following characteristics: Safety: 50% “good” Lighting: good/adequate Safe Route: good Bike Racks: ~50% “poor” Good Play Equipment: adequate/good/very good Pleasant Landscape: >50% “good” Shade: 50% “good” Seating: good/adequate Cleanliness: >50% “adequate” Enough Garbage Cans & Recycling Bins: >50% “adequate”
1
Some suggestions to increase park use by the residents include: Adding bicycle racks - almost 50 percent of the participants stated there are very few racks and approximately 43 percent do bike in the neighborhood, but there is nowhere to leave their bike once they arrive to the park. Increasing social cohesion - hosting events at the park can encourage positive social interaction among the residents. Improving the lighting - approximately 23 percent of the participants stated there was poor lighting in this park. Including a dedicated dog area (if not already present) - a couple of the participants stated the primary reason they walk is to walk their dog.
2
Question: How often do you use the park? A majority of the participants visit the Glen Oak Park about once a month.
Question: How safe do you feel walking alone in this neighborhood after dark? A majority of the participants stated they do not feel safe at all when walking around the neighborhood alone after dark. This is a possible result of crime in the area and poor lighting on the streets.
3
Walking and Jogging Question: Do you walk/jog? Question: If you answered “yes” how frequently do you walk/jog? Of the 23 respondents that responded to questions about their actions regarding walking and jogging, 19 of them said that they do walk and/or jog. As depicted in the chart below, the majority of respondents walk and/or jog quite frequently throughout the week. Eight respondents do so 3 to 4 times per week and three do these activities 5 or more times per week.
Question: If you answered “yes” what is the primary reason you walk/jog The primary reason that respondents walk and/or jog is for physical fitness and staying healthy. Other respondents walk/and or jog to reach a destination, while others do so for the purpose of walking their dog.
4
Question: I would be more likely to walk/jog if… The majority of respondents said that they be more likely to walk and/or jog if they felt safer from potential crime. Nearly a quarter of respondents said that they would walk/jog if there was sufficient lighting. If these issues are addressed, residents may feel safer when walking or jogging in the community. In addition, respondents identified poor sidewalk conditions to be another major reason that they lack the desire to walk/jog places. If the infrastructure in this area is improved, there is a possibility that respondents will feel more inclined to walk and/or jog in the neighborhood.
Question: I would be more likely to walk/jog if trails/sidewalks/ routes went to… Respondents also indicated that they would feel more inclined to walk/jog if routes led to places they visit frequently. Of these places, respondents seemed most willing to walk/jog if routes led to their workplace or a grocery/convenience store. Also, many respondents said that they would walk/jog if these routes led to the library and additional places that they identified in the “other” category such as: coffee shops, wooded areas, and the Rock Island Trail.
5
Biking Question: Do you bike? Question: If you answered “yes” how frequently do you bike? Of the 23 respondents who responded to questions about biking, 13 of them responded that they do bike. As depicted in the chart below, 8 out of 9 respondents stated they bike about once a week.
Question: If you answered “yes” what is the primary reason you bike? Question: I would be more likely to bike if… The vast majority of respondents that bike do so for physical fitness and to stay healthy. The respondent that responded with an answer “other” said that they biked for recreational purposes.
Most respondents indicated that more biking trails and increased safety from automobile traffic would make them more inclined to bike. In addition, many respondents said that they would be more inclined to bike if they felt more protected from potential danger.
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Question: I would be more likely to bike if routes went toâ&#x20AC;Ś The majority of respondents also stated they would be more likely to bike if trails/sidewalks/ routes went to their workplace.
Social Interactions Social Capital Question: What factors are important to building social capital in your neighborhood? (Rank from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most important) The participants ranked various factors based on their importance to building social capital in the East Bluff neighborhood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;1â&#x20AC;? is defined as being the most important. The factors for social capital in the area were ranked by the following:
7
Local Churches: 33% “most important” Positive Youth Recreational Activities: 35% “most important” Access to Programs that Increase Adult Education and Employment Opportunities : ~30% “important” Community Groups Serving Local Needs: ~60% “somewhat important” Public Spaces for Community Interaction : ~28% “important” and “not important at all”
Neighborhood Improvements Question: What factors would you like to see improved in your neighborhood? (Select all that apply.) The most popular factors that the participants would you like to see improved in the East Bluff neighborhood are providing positive youth recreational activities, followed by community groups and/or neighborhood associations serving local needs.
8
Connection with Neighbors Question: How well do you know your neighbors? Of the 20 respondents to this question, 8 participants stated they know their neighbors very well. Another 8 participants stated they know who their neighbors are, but don’t “know” them. Knowledge of neighbors provides a sense of security in the neighborhood helps to build social cohesion.
Community Service Question: In the last 12 months, have you ever worked together with someone or some group to solve a problem in the community where you live? Within the past year, 16 of the 21 participants stated they have worked with someone or some group to solve a problem in the community. Working with others in the neighborhood helps to build a strong sense of social cohesion as.
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Safety Daytime Question: On a scale of 1-5 (1 being very unsafe and 5 being very safe), how safe do you feel walking around your neighborhood during the day? On a scale of 1-5, 9 out of 22 respondents stated that they feel safe when walking around the neighborhood during the day.
Nighttime Question: On a scale of 1-5 (1 being very unsafe and 5 being very safe), how safe do you feel walking around your neighborhood during the evening or night? On a scale of 1-5, 8 out of the 22 of the respondents stated they feel very unsafe when walking around the neighborhood during the evening or night.
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Access to Food Transportation Mode Question: What is your actual mode of transportation for grocery shopping? 75 percent of the participants use a car to get to the grocery store. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;otherâ&#x20AC;? category was specified as delivery and taxi service. None of the participants mentioned public transportation.
Preferred Transportation Mode Question: What is your preferred mode of transportation for grocery shopping? 95 percent of the participants stated their preferred mode of transportation to get to a grocery store is a car, which is also the mode that a majority of the participants already utilize.
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Distance to Grocery Store Question: If you wanted to walk to a local store within Peoria in order to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, how long would it take you? If a resident of the East Bluff neighborhood wanted to walk to a local store within Peoria in order to purchase fresh produce, 9 out of the 21 participants stated it would take them approximately 10-20 minutes.
Question: How close do you live near a grocery store that sells fresh, affordable produce? In addition, 50 percent of the participants live ¼ - ½ mile away from a grocery store that sells fresh, affordable produce. Although this is not too far of a walking distance, carrying the groceries back home is difficult, which may explain the high usage of cars for grocery shopping.
About the Participants Knowledge about Health Question: How would you rate your general level of knowledge about the following…
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Approximately 50 percent of the respondents (10 out of 21) stated they have â&#x20AC;&#x153;very goodâ&#x20AC;? knowledge about a healthy lifestyle which includes healthy food and nutrition, maintaining a healthy weight, and recommended levels of exercise.
Gender A majority of the participants who took this survey were female.
Age A majority of the participants who took this survey were 45 years and older.
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Appendix B Walk Audit Notes Crossing Streets & Intersections
Route 1 (Knoxville Ave. - between Frye and Archer) (generally needs to implement Complete Streets Policy to design entire avenue - see the summary of design suggestions for this street after the sections)
○
○
Archer and Peoria: needs signs for driver awareness of pedestrian crossing and bicyclist sharing the road. Needs painted crosswalks, even and aligned curbed cuts w/ADA accessibility on all four corners (Archer is a calm neighborhood road, but Peoria is a little busier, but not as busy as Knoxville)
Route 3 (Arcadia Ave. - between Knoxville and California)
○ ○
Knox. and Arcadia: traffic is calmer at this intersection because it is closer to a stop light;
Route 2: (Archer Ave. - between Knoxville and California)
○ ○
Knox. and Frye: missing crosswalks and signals, but needs them and a push-to-walk button; road is too wide to cross safely; stop sign on Frye emerging onto Knox. is set too far back from intersection and view is also obstructed by properties set too close to Knox.; long distance between stop lights with pedestrian crossings; there are no curb cuts with ramps to cross Knoxville Ave. for people with disabilities (e.g., wheelchair), curb cuts (with no ramps) are present to cross other streets along Knoxville Ave that emerge into Knoxville Avenue.
Archer and California: needs 4-way stop sign Arcadia and California: needs even and aligned curbed cuts w/ADA accessibility on all four corners.
Route 4 (Arcadia Ave. - between Prospect and Wisconsin
○
Only area of concern is Prospect & Arcadia
■ ■ ○ ○ ○
○
Most intersections are 4 way stops Wisconsin & Arcadia is a 4-way stop w/ marked crosswalks
Wisconsin & Thrush - no pedestrian signal or audible signal, needs a traffic signal or crosswalk, no pushto-walk signal available (but not completely necessary as this was a small intersection) Wisconsin & McClure - no pedestrian signal or audible signal, needs a traffic signal or crosswalk, no push-to-walk signal available (but not completely necessary as this was a small intersection)
At Kansas and N California Ave: crosswalk is poorly marked; there is no pedestrian signal
Route 7 (New York Ave.)
○ ○
Maryland, Delaware, Central, and Atlantic all have adequate ramps and crossings for the amount of traffic in the area
Route 6 (Kansas Ave.)
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No pedestrian crossing that slows or stops traffic
Route 5 (Wisconsin - between Republic & McClure)
○
High traffic counts and speeds
At Ravine Ave: needs 4 way stop due to long distance between signs on NY Ave At Nebraska Ave: 3 pedestrians walking at average speed during observation period
Route 8 (E Illinois Ave)
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○
All intersections (WI, NY, CA, MO) need (better) crosswalk markings
Route 9 (Wisconsin Ave)
○
At Nebraska Ave: ADA compliant ramps but they either do not line up with the crosswalk area or there is an obstruction on the sidewalk, 1 pedestrian walking at average speed and 1 pedestrian using wheelchair during observation period
Sidewalks
Route 1 (Knoxville Ave. - between Frye and Archer)
○
Route 2: (Archer Ave. - between Knoxville and California)
○
○ ○ ○
Ramps are smooth, but street is brick which may cause problems with handicap accessibility
Cracked north of Archer (between Archer and McClure) Some corners don’t have 2 curb cuts Some curb cuts marked/textured, some not On Kansas from N California Ave to N Wisconsin Ave: generally good condition, some litter
Route 7 (New York Ave.) Between Illinois Ave and Nebraska Ave: curb is deteriorating in several sections
Route 8 (E Illinois Ave)
○
Adequate width for the amount of foot traffic
Route 6 (Kansas Ave.)
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A few parts of the sidewalks are crumbled and need to be repaired.
Route 5 (Wisconsin - between Republic & McClure)
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Arcadia and California: missing sidewalks for about 100 feet along California leading to Arcadia.
Route 4 (Arcadia Ave - between Wisconsin and Prospect)
○ ○
A few parts of the sidewalks are crumbled and need to be repaired.
Route 3 (Arcadia Ave - between Knoxville and California)
○ ○
Sidewalks are only wide enough for one person to walk in either direction; needs buffer between traffic and sidewalk; could use improved landscaping on this east side of Knoxville (as compared to the west side of Knoxville) to add comfort and appeal to this neighborhood boundary
Some obstacles including a hydrant at Wisconsin and limited ramp access at Wisconsin & Missouri
Route 9 (Wisconsin Ave)
○
Between Nebraska Ave and Ravine Ave: needs a buffer between sidewalk and traffic, the sidewalk is frequently interrupted by telephone poles and fire hydrants
Driver Behavior
Route 1 (Knoxville Ave.)
○
Route 2 (Archer Ave. - between Knoxville and California)
○
Knoxville Avenue is dominated by drivers who behaved mostly well. However, they didn’t stop to let the funeral proceeding to go by.
Drivers behaved well, stopped at the stop signs, but many of them played loud music.
Route 3 (Arcadia Ave - between Knoxville and California)
○
Drivers behaved well, stopped at the stop signs, but many of them played loud music.
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Route 4 (Arcadia Ave - between Prospect and Wisconsin)
○ ○
Don’t look when leaving or backing out of driveways Make unexpected turns/maneuvers Play extremely loud music in residential areas
On Kansas from N California Ave to N Wisconsin Ave: drivers were compliant with signs and signals
Between Illinois Ave and Nebraska Ave: on street parking that can pose visual obstruction
Route 8 (E Illinois Ave)
○ ○ ○
Are distracted
Route 7 (New York Ave.)
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Appear to be speeding
Route 6 (Kansas Ave.)
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Children playing in the street indicate the level of safety felt by the residents
Route 5 (Wisconsin - between Republic & McClure) Drivers:
○ ○ ○ ○ ○
4-way stops and brick streets keep drivers moving slowly
At N Wisconsin Ave: moderate, low intensity traffic At N California Ave: moderate, low intensity traffic At N Missouri Ave: moderate, low intensity traffic
Route 9 (Wisconsin Ave)
○
Between Nebraska Ave and Ravine Ave: could use warning signs about talking on cell phone while driving
Safety
Route 1 (Knoxville Ave. - between Frye and Archer)
○
Route 2 (Archer Ave - between Knoxville and California)
○
Very safe Respectful residents Slow traffic
Route 5 (Wisconsin - between Republic & McClure)
○ ○ ○
Safe for the most part.
Route 4 (Arcadia Ave - between Prospect and Wisconsin)
○ ○ ○
Safe for the most part.
Route 3 (Arcadia Ave - between Knoxville and California)
○
Pedestrians and bicyclists do not have a safe space to use here so the entire street should be redesigned to make it safer for them.
Lack of buffer between sidewalks and streets Some intersections do not have crosswalks School and grocery store provide safety as there are many residents present throughout the day
Route 6 (Kansas Ave.)
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Route 7 (New York Ave.)
○
At Ravine Ave: needs 4 way stop due to long distance between signs on New York Ave, children out playing, toys in front yards
Route 8 (E Illinois Ave)
○
On Kansas from N California Ave to N Wisconsin Ave: traffic lights present, low vegetation
At California Ave: needs 4 way stop, due to speeding traffic as well as East Bluff Community Park on SE corner
Route 9 (Wisconsin Ave)
○ Higher traffic volume calls for clear crosswalks to give visual distance for drivers to pedestrian crossings Comfort & Appeal
Route 1 (Knoxville Ave. - between Frye and Archer)
○
Route 2 (Archer Ave. - between Knoxville and California)
○
The street needs more shade trees, grass, flowers, and landscaping
On Kansas from N California Ave to N Wisconsin Ave: driveways need maintenance, cluttered yards, many homes with fences
At Ravine Ave: some seat walls, children play with chalk on sidewalk, shrub overgrowth
Route 8 (E Illinois Ave)
○
Overall: Very appealing neighborhood
Route 7 (New York Ave.)
○
Some vacant buildings and rundown residencies
Route 6 (Kansas Ave.)
○
Landscaping is mostly adequate, some yards need mowing
Route 5 (Wisconsin - between Republic & McClure)
○
The main appeal issue is some trash by some properties (mainly properties for sale or rent). Some buildings may need beautification to create a more well-kept look of the entire neighborhood.
Route 4 (Arcadia Ave - between Prospect and Wisconsin)
○ ○ ○
The main appeal issue is some trash by some properties (mainly properties for sale or rent). Some buildings may need beautification to create a more well-kept look of the entire neighborhood.
Route 3 (Arcadia Ave. - between Knoxville and California)
○
There is no buffer between the sidewalk and the road and it needs one. The sidewalk should be at least 5 feet-wide. There is almost no landscaping or trees along the eastern side of the avenue, so we recommend adding them. Finally, the bus stops do not have bus shelters and the sidewalks are too narrow to be counted as the bus stops.
Majority of Illinois Ave has high curb appeal despite some debris and vegetation overgrowth
Route 9 (Wisconsin Ave)
○ Several public trashcans visible, but litter still present Active Transportation
Route 1 (Knoxville Ave. - between Frye and Archer)
○
Does not have bicycle lanes, but four bicyclists of ages 10-60 years old were spotted using sidewalks
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during 30 minutes of the audit. Bicycle infrastructure should be put in place for them. Crossings for bicyclists are also dangerous and sparse.
○
Route 2 (Archer Ave. - between Knoxville and California)
○
No visible bike lanes. No bike protection or separation from cars.
Not a busy street, no need for additions
At Ravine Ave: no bus routes, no bus stops, some road maintenance but a lot still needed.
Route 8 (E Illinois Ave)
○ ○
The bus stop doesn’t provide shelter, doesn’t have adequate lighting.
Route 7 (New York Ave.)
○
No bus stops on Arcadia, but sidewalks provide pathway for bike/walk to bus stop on Wisconsin Ave.
Route 6 (Kansas Ave.)
○
No bike amenities, however, they are unnecessary.
Route 5 (Wisconsin - between Republic & McClure)
○ ○ ○
Quiet residential street with good sidewalk allows for walking and bicycling. There is no need in bus infrastructure.
Route 4 (Arcadia Ave. - between Prospect and Wisconsin)
○ ○
Quiet residential street with good sidewalk allows for walking and bicycling. There is no need in bus infrastructure.
Route 3 (Arcadia Ave. - between Knoxville and California)
○
Only one bus stop was spotted, but it is barely visible, located on a narrow sidewalk and needs a bus shelter.
No bus routes, road is in acceptable condition. Bus stop with bench nearby at Wisconsin & Glen Oak Ave.
Route 9 (Wisconsin Ave)
○
Only one bus stop, bench sitting on sidewalk obstructing pedestrians.
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Appendix C Healthy Place Initiatives and Case Studies The following section provides a series of examples of local initiatives focused on creating healthier communities.
Healthy Places, an Initiative of Healthy Chicago compiles best practices and lessons learned into 5 Healthy Places area toolkits: Corner Store Initiative; Healthy School Environments; Breastfeeding Education and Support; Healthy Vending; Neighborhood Walkability. Corner Store Initiative Twenty corner stores in Healthy Places Communities intervention neighborhoods were assessed to determine the overall store environment including inventory, marketing, and customer behaviors. Six stores now consistently stock and promote healthier options in communities of highest need.
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CPS Healthy Schools Challenge A â&#x20AC;&#x153;Healthy School Certifiedâ&#x20AC;? indicator is now included in the CPS School Progress Reports. This indicator was developed by CPS Health and Wellness and funded by Healthy Places. It informs the public whether a school has met certain health standards. After School Programs City of Chicago passed formal policies implementing new healthy nutrition and physical activity standards in their after-school programs benefiting 2,000 kids across the city. Studies by Active Living Research show the health benefits of physical activity and healthy eating in school-age children and offers best practices for schools to implement programs that appeal to students and encourage them to become more active.
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Mobile Produce Carts A June 2012 ordinance approved the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables from carts on private property and 30 designated locations on the public right-of-way in Chicago. Vendors now can sell whole fruit and vegetables from moveable stands as long as half of their business is conducted in communities underserved by grocery stores. In the first year, 13 mobile carts were licensed and selling fresh produce on City streets. Mobile produce carts are becoming ever more popular in neighborhoods that are considered â&#x20AC;&#x153;food desertsâ&#x20AC;? and in larger cities like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Healthy Vending New guidelines around fat, sugar and calorie contents requires 75% of items sold in Chicago vending machines to be healthy options. A 2012 ordinance was passed to transition vending machines in all City departments and buildings to healthy vending machines by Jan. 2013. As a result of this policy, 32,000+ City employees have access to healthier snack and beverage options. H.U.M.A.N. Healthy Vending This is a one-of-a-kind nutritional distribution platform providing healthier foods and drinks to people across the nation. It offers an innovative line up of 9 unique, healthy vending machines from standard coil operated machines, to hot food, frozen or refrigerated machines; and coffee machines. H.U.M.A.N. is also a small business incubator offering franchise opportunities in areas where implement healthy eating is a priority. Sources: Healthy Places Chicago. 2012. Retrieved from http://www.healthyplaceschicago.org/ Active Living Research. 2016. Retrieved from http://activelivingresearch.org/ H.U.M.A.N. Healthy Vending. 2016. Retrieved from http://www.healthyvending.com/
Healthy Place Initiatives in St. Louis, MO Corner Stores Project in St. Louis This project started as a 2011 initiative of the University of Missouri Extension working in underserved communities in North St. Louis. This project brought healthy food options to small corner stores and markets, primarily in neighborhoods without adequate sources of affordable, healthy food. The project engages local store owners, community residents, and organizations in a set of strategies to increase healthy and fresh food options in STL neighborhoods. Stock Healthy, Shop Healthy
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Based on the success of the St. Louis Healthy Corner Store Project, University of Missouri Extension developed a statewide healthy retail program called Stock Healthy, Shop Healthy. In partnership with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, University of Missouri Extension launched Stock Healthy, Shop Healthy, a comprehensive multi-component, community-based initiative that allows communities to improve access to healthy, affordable foods by working with urban and rural small food retailers. Key components of SHSH are partnership development, community engagement, marketing, store changes and the addition of healthy inventory, and consumer nutrition education in the store and surrounding community. Through toolkits, resources and webinars, Stock Healthy, Shop Healthy guides any community, rural and urban, through a unique approach to increasing access to healthy foods that involves engaging small food retailers and community members. Currently, ten rural and urban communities across the state of Missouri are implementing Stock Healthy, Shop Healthy in over twenty stores. Old North St. Louis Restoration Group is a community-based non-profit organization established by North St. Louis residents in 1981 to revitalize the physical and social dimensions of the community. The group evolved from a volunteer organization to an effective community development corporation with professional staff and a broad range of community-building and revitalization activities including housing, historic preservation, neighborhood beautification and clean-ups, establishing community gardens and planning for park improvements. Two of the organizations more notable projects in regards to creating healthy food places were the establishment of a community cooperative grocery store and the North City Farmer’s Market to serve a community that previously lacked sources for healthy food. Grocery Store Cooperative With a goal of bringing affordable, healthy and fresh foods to the residents of Old North St. Louis, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group established the Old North Grocery Co-op through funding support from Missouri Foundation for Health, the Greater St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone and many other individuals and organizations. The Old North Grocery Co-op is open to the public, regardless of membership status, with a goal of making affordable and healthy foods accessible to all residents in Old North and its surrounding neighborhoods. Community Gardens Old North St. Louis is home to multiple community gardens that are a living testament to the neighborhood’s commitment to revitalization. Old North Saint Louis Restoration Group holds garden leases for the cultivation and maintenance of six community gardens on city-owned land. North City Farmer’s Market Old North St. Louis Restoration Group has hosted and coordinated North City Farmers' Market since 2007, with a vast portion of the work contributed by neighborhood residents and other volunteers. 22
During the first five years of the market, ONSLRG received significant financial support from Missouri Foundation for Health to support the market. Other support has come from Missouri Department of Agriculture and a long list of individual contributors. North City Farmer’s Market offers healthy, affordable fresh foods and produce, free health screenings, healthy cooking demonstrations and provides a friendly, safe community gathering space. Missouri Foundation for Health Initiatives The mission of the MFH is to improve the health of the people and communities they serve. In realizing this mission, the foundation supports communities in the following ways: Focus funding on activities that can produce measurable improvements in the health of Missourians with particular focus on underserved and disadvantaged citizens. Use valid and reliable evidence to guide our grant making and program development. Seek input and feedback from the communities we serve to inform our efforts. Address all aspects of health including promotion, prevention and treatment as well as the underlying social causes of poor health. Collaborate with government, community organizations and other funders. Advocate for and support efforts to achieve guaranteed affordable quality care. Build for the Foundation's future by maintaining excellence in ethical management of Foundation resources, both human and financial. Missouri Foundation for Health Healthy Schools Healthy Communities MFH is building partnerships and progress through the Healthy Schools Healthy Communities Initiative. Thirteen school districts with nearly 13,000 students are participating in the Schools as the Hub program. This program: Improves and builds new parks, sidewalks and bike trails. Introduces healthier foods and more opportunities for physical activity. Address childhood obesity through prevention efforts in select communities. Makes it easier for kids to eat healthy and be active by creating opportunities in the classroom, on the playground, at home, and throughout the community. Provides knowledge, tools, and support for families to implement changes in nutrition and physical at home. Pushes for changes that increase access to healthy foods and physical activity where kids live, learn and play. YMCA of Greater St. Louis YMCA started a project called Local Sprouts Project: A Farm to Childcare Initiative. Its goal is to coordinate opportunities for kids to eat healthy local food during snack and mealtime and to teaching children about where their food comes from and how to make nutritious choices.
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Sources: University of Missouri Extension. St Louis Healthy Corner Store Project. 2016. Retrieved from http://extension.missouri.edu/stlouis/healthycornerstore.aspx University of Michigan Extension. Stock Healthy Shop Healthy. 2016. Retrieved from http://extension.missouri.edu/stockhealthy/ Old North St. Louis Restoration Group. 2016 Retrieved from http://onsl.org/ YouTube. Welcome to the North City Farmers Market. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB5emZw3_0k&feature=youtu.be Missouri Foundation for Health. 2016. Retrieved from https://mffh.org/ YouTube. MFH Healthy Schools Healthy Communities Launch. 2014. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRCJD-jj7LM&feature=youtu.be
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Appendix D: Themes from Community Health Asset Mapping On March 12, 2016 the Health in Place class facilitated a Community Health Asset Mapping event in the East Bluff in which participants mapped and rated places in the neighborhood with regards to how these places affect health. The intention of this exercise was to empower residents and others connected to the East Bluff to think about their neighborhood through the lens of public health, and to allow them to share knowledge that could be incorporated into the Health Plan. We hoped to find out answers to these questions: “What sorts of places exist in the East Bluff that help to make the it a healthier place? What could be improved? What detracts from public health in the neighborhood?” During the exercise, participants broke up into small groups and rated places based on four separate categories: Health facilities and services, places with food, places that encourage a sense of community, and places that are unhealthy or unsafe. A rating of 1 was the highest, and corresponded to a place that participants feel is very beneficial to health. A rating of two was the medium rating, corresponded to a place that participants felt was somewhat beneficial to health, but could be improved. A rating of three was the worst rating, corresponded to places that participants felt negatively affected their health. The following report compiles notes that were taken during the small group discussions. Health Facilities and Services Participants labeled OSF St. Francis Hospital as an important resource, and was given a rating of 1. According to participants, this hospital has “full-fledged health care” in the forms of general care and emergency medical care. There are also options for care for uninsured people. Heartland clinic was also identified as a critical health resource for the community, it was also given a rating of one. Residents identified it as an accessible and affordable clinic because a bus stop is located right outside. Residents also highlighted that there will be a new health clinic run out of the East Bluff Community Center with home-to-home care by a local retired physician. This will increase accessibility to affordable healthcare for residents who may not be able to travel to the Heartland Clinic. Other health facilities that were given a rating of one include Proctor First Care and the Hult Center for Healthy Living (both outside of the East Bluff), Unity Point Methodist Hospital, the Peoria City/County Health Department, and Barnabas House, which offers pregnancy services, women's health, and counseling. Planned Parenthood was given a ranking of two because it is not accessible by car. The Peoria Riverplex was the only fitness center mentioned by participants. It was given a rating of one, because it is less than one mile from the East Bluff and is accessible by public transit. Places with Food Kroger was identified as a clean, friendly grocery store where residents can reasonably obtain all of the foods they need. Kroger has affordable healthy food options along with a pharmacy, and was given a rating of one by all participants. Participants discussed that Kroger is the only grocery store south of Forrest Hill, which was said to be a sort of “dividing line” between wealthy and under-resourced areas of the city. One resident stated “everything is moving north” in reference to the divide between the northern and southern parts of the city. The Chef and the Baker was given a rating of one by some participants, but some believed that it was too expensive to eat there often. This restaurant serves high quality sandwiches and pastries, and attracts people from outside the neighborhood. The Chef and the Baker will soon be locating to a new, larger building in the East Bluff. Residents also valued the Tienda Mexicana, a small, good quality store with some fresh vegetables, fruits, and fresh meats including chorizo. Tres Reales was identified as a high quality Mexican restaurant. Some residents gave the Subway on Knoxville Avenue a higher rating because of its affordability and the fact that the sandwiches come with fresh vegetables. Furthermore, a local Indian restaurant and the East Bluff Community Center Food Pantry were labeled as accessible and high quality locations to get food. Places that were given the intermediate rating of two include the Junction City Farmers Market, which provides healthy local food but is only accessible by car, the Family Dollar, which does not sell fruits or vegetables, Amir’s corner store, which is accessible and has milk and bread, but no fresh produce or meats, and Mi Familia restaurant, which is accessible and somewhat healthy. The Popeye's and other fast food establishments on Knoxville were identified as convenient, accessible and affordable yet unhealthy food choices. These establishments were rated either two or three. According to residents, community gardens in the neighborhood provide healthy food and opportunities for social interaction. The newest garden is currently being implemented at Wisconsin and Republic. The community garden located at the East Bluff Community Center is also an important resource for the neighborhood. It was given
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a rating of one, and participants valued the collective spirit of the garden, stating that anyone can choose to help out or take food home. Tree plantings were also valued in the neighborhood, and one participant wished for a treeplanting program to bring the community together. Convenience stores were a commonly discussed detractor for the neighborhood, and were given ratings of two or three. According to residents, they sell unhealthy foods and tobacco products, and some are located close to the Glen Oak Learning Center. This attracts students to buy unhealthy foods. The store at Arcadia and Knoxville attracts many students in particular, and is a location for loitering and gang activity. A new convenience store is opening at Forrest Hill and Wisconsin just outside of the neighborhood. Sense of Community Comments concerning the Glen Oak Learning Center positioned it as a place that holds the community together. According to a participant, the school became a catalyst for community action and the development of a neighborhood association when the city decided to move the school in 2008. The community rose up and protested this decision. The city council took notice, and changed their plans. The school was rebuilt in its original location. One participant was helping to plan a community event celebrating the end of school on June 4. While most comments about the school were positive, participants discussed the need to improve the green space around the school. Because there are large rocks and uneven areas in the green space, the school does not have a soccer or softball field. The school spent money in order to improve the green space, but one resident discussed that the money went towards moving dirt and planting trees on the periphery of the school’s green space, instead of improving the fields. A neighborhood association is still working to get the soccer field and the rest of the recreational space improved. Participants also brought up the problem of students who do not use trash bins near the school’s basketball court. Community members often come to clean up after students who have littered on the courts. Furthermore, some participants brought up loitering and drug dealing as infrequent yet negative activities that occur near the green space of the Glen Oak Learning Center, but others stated that the school feels very safe. Lastly, some participants discussed the fact that the Glen Oak Learning Center was originally supposed to include more resources for adults, such as a library, a resource center, and a health/fitness center. They were disappointed that funding did not allow for these resources, but appreciated that the playground and basketball courts are open after hours for public use. Glen Oak Park is another important community resource. Participants praised programs and services including the children’s museum and zoo. Participants also appreciated the accessibility of the park from the neighborhood. Some identified a need to increase resident participation in park and zoo events and activities. They suggested that people need to be made aware and motivated to use the Glen Oak Park and other pocket parks. Participants named the East Bluff Community Center as yet another critical resource, due to its accessibility and varied outreach programs. In addition to the food pantry and community garden run by the community center, participants praised “Coffee with Cops” and “Lunch with Seniors” as programs that bring people in the neighborhood together. Groups can also reserve space to meet here. The EBCC Facebook page was also discussed as a positive resource for community interaction and spreading of information. Furthermore, residents agreed that the East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services (EBNHS) was an asset for the community, and facilitated social interaction and neighborhood improvements. Churches were also recognized as places for community-building. Glen Oak Christian Church (which has fellowship meetings and bible studies) and Prince of Peace Church were specifically mentioned. The Springdale Cemetery and the Rock Island Trail both came up as enjoyable green spaces. Participants also praised the East Bluff Boys and Girls Club. This organization provides activities for youth and manages free little library boxes in the neighborhood. Some participants pointed out Sparky’s Wisconsin Tap as a positive small, family oriented establishment and a common meeting place for residents. Beauty and barber shops were also identified as important centers for large groups to meet in the neighborhood. Kim’s beauty shop in particular was mentioned; the public mural on its side is a source of pride for many the community. Additionally, the American Legion offers rentable space and provides breakfast for the community. The East Bluff Community Park was given a rating of two because it is small, does not have a playground, and permits smoking. Peoria Public Library McClure branch was also given a rating of two because it is in a nice historic building, but is not accessible by walking. Residents gave the payday loan locations on Knoxville Avenue a rating of three, because they take advantage of people and do not offer financial literacy. Unsafe/Unhealthy places
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Participants expressed concerns about absentee landlords in the neighborhood. According to some residents, these landlords do not maintain their properties, and only care about the money they can make off their tenants. Participants stated that these landlords live outside the community and are not invested in the role their property and tenants play in the neighborhood. Furthermore, participants recognized that some homeowners do not keep up their properties, which creates blight. One participant pointed out that public trash cans are not regularly emptied, and it is up to the residents to clean up overflowing litter. Participants also pointed out that old brick streets needed to be repaired on Kansas, Archer and Arcadia. Some stated that brick sidewalks on the 400 block of Frye and California were also in disrepair, and some perceived them as inaccessible and unsafe to walk on. However, one participant had a different view. This participant felt that most sidewalks were in good condition, and that 75% of people walk on the street, especially at night. Additionally, speeding near the Glen Oak Learning Center was addressed in discussions, and residents identified a need for traffic calming measures in that area. Participants identified excessive speeding from Illinois to Nebraska due to a lack of stop signs in that corridor. According to one participant, the speeding and crossing issues on Knoxville Avenue are more dangerous than those same issues on Prospect Road. Participants also named a dangerous intersection at Kansas and Wisconsin. A building there blocks the visibility for pedestrians, and crosswalks and signals are needed. Drivers who speed and ignore stop signs at the intersections of Frye and New York and Illinois and New York were also brought up as a safety issue. Furthermore, participants perceived the intersection of Abington and Prospect as an unsafe crossing for children. Participants highlighted that crossing or turning at the intersection of Knoxville and Arcadia can be dangerous, and a stop light is needed to calm traffic. The intersection also needs crosswalks and signals. Additionally, this intersection was identified as a place where gang activity and crime occurs, partially because a gas station and convenience store are located there. These places serve as a gathering spot for gang activity, and a shooting occurred there last summer. Some participants pointed out that this gang activity is a problem all along the 2200 block of North Knoxville. Other areas that were labeled unsafe due to crime are the 700-900 blocks of Kansas and Nebraska, which are near the school and can be dangerous at night, and Thrush, Arcadia and Archer Streets, which have many rental properties in disrepair, and have seen instances of theft. Vacant lots and blight were also recognized as issues for the neighborhood. A former Cub foods now sits vacant in Knoxville and Freye. Although crime in the neighborhood was discussed, participants stated that one of the main problems in the East Bluff was something that cannot be put on a map: negative perception. Some participants believed that the East Bluff was no more crime-ridden than other neighborhoods, and that a lot of the negative feelings about the East Bluff come from perceptions of crime, rather than actual crimes. Some viewed that this problem of negative perception is being addressed through increased investment in the neighborhood led community members and organizations. Participants believed that increased economic development and rebranding of the neighborhood could help to change negative perceptions of the neighborhood. One participant shared that they loved the neighborhood. Other participants stated that they felt very safe in the neighborhood, even at 11 p.m. Furthermore, some participants praised the Resident Police Program, which has relocated a local police officer to live permanently in the neighborhood. This officer is working to start a youth employment program centered on mowing vacant lots, which need to be mowed consistently to prevent overgrowth and blight. In this way, two issues in the neighborhood will be addressed: youth unemployment and blight. Visioning Discussion: After the maps were filled out in groups, the groups came together for a larger discussion about their visions for a healthier East Bluff. The following list illustrates these visions and needs. Free Health clinic Coffee shop Bank-credit union or community bank (CSEFQUE) More parks would be a waste Garbage collection where the garbage trucks go to houses. Currently, residents have to bring their garbage to bins-CAVEAT Vegetation management, including taking care of dying trees Split homeowner/city funding for garbage and vegetation Less convenience stores Improve Glen Oak Learning Center green space (accessible to the public)
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Less speeding around school (improve signage) Investment for small shops (doctors, bank, barber) Possible community gyms at Glen Oak Learning Centers, also public library, computers, meeting space Better landlords or more homeowners (too many absentee landlords) Farmers market that takes SNAP Fill in empty buildings (old cub foods in midtown)
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