MVP
Neighborhood – Listening Tour Results
Mount Vernon Park Listening Effort - Tour Tallies
Number of people/ households participating: 50 (9.14% participation rate)
• 84% of participants 13+
• 16% 12 and under
(Representative given that 15% of neighborhood is under the age of 14)
Number of issues brought up (across all categories)
Door to Door Surveys: 62
• Dreams: 21
• Assets: 21
• Liabilities: 20
Block Party & Dig. Surveys: 10
• Dreams: 4
• Assets: 4
• Liabilities: 2
Postcards: 5
• Dreams: 5
• Assets: N/A
• Liabilities: N/A
Quantity of votes (across all categories)
Door to Door Surveys: 134
• Dreams: 44
• Assets: 54
• Liabilities: 36
Block Party & Dig. Surveys: 10
• Dreams: 4
• Assets: 4
• Liabilities: 2
(NPAW, Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood Association members and residents, LSN)
Postcards: 9
• Dreams: 9
• Assets: N/A
• Liabilities: N/A
Study Dates: July, August, October 2024 I Volunteers/ Walkers: 8
Mount Vernon Park Listening Tour Overview – Engagement Events
Door to Door Survey
29 (households/ surveys)
July 2024
Block Party & Digital Surveys (Adults/ Teens)
11 quizzes completed
242 input points & dots (boards)
2 surveys
Block Party (Youth)
3 Postcards
August 2024
Mount Vernon Park Listening Tour Overview – Tools Used & Purpose
Quizzes Fill-in & Dot Boards Postcards
29 Door to door surveys
2 Block Party surveys
(Adult Engagement to determine focus areas)
July & August
3 Youth
(Youth Engagement to determine focus & projects) August
11 Adults
(Assess understanding of neighborhood basics & conditions; gauge reaction)
242 dots & input points
(Types of projects & Education about Neighborhood) August & October
Quiz Results – Understanding & Community Response
MVP
Listening Tour Overview – Quiz Questions & Correct responses
Boundaries: Pettit, S. Anthony, Paulding, Hanna
Crime Rates: decreased
Number of Houses: 437
Number of People: 1338
Percent of Homes Occupied: 78%
Median Age: 23.4 years
Percent under 18: 43.7%
Dollars Invested: $45 million+
Orgs that have invested: Bridge of Grace, City of Fort Wayne, FWCS, FWPR, Various Churches
Orgs that have invested: 55% Partially Correct
Asian Population Growth: 64% Correct
Learn anything new: 82% yes
What surprised you most: Varies (people- friendly & coming together)
Wish people knew: Varies (people- how friendly & resources- what’s available)
Likelihood of attending future events: 9 out of 10
Likelihood of inviting neighbors to future events: 9 out of 10
Future Event Feedback: More Block Parties
MVP
Listening Tour Overview – Quiz Outcomes: Understanding of Neighborhood & Stats
Boundaries: 45% Fully Correct
Crime Rates: 36% Correct (decreased)
Houses: 73% Correct
People: 73% Correct
Percent Occupied: 73% Correct
Median Age: 73% Correct
Percent under 18: 64% Correct
Dollars Invested: 82% Correct
Orgs that have invested: 0% Fully Correct
Orgs that have invested: 55% Partially Correct
Asian Population Growth: 64% Correct
Learn anything new: 82% yes
What surprised you most: Varies (people- friendly & coming together)
Wish people knew: Varies (people- how friendly & resources- what’s available)
Likelihood of attending future events: 9 out of 10
Likelihood of inviting neighbors to future events: 9 out of 10
Future Event Feedback: More Block Parties
Mount Vernon Park– Survey Results
Top Focus Areas of each Listening Group Door to Door (Adults)
Property Upkeep & Maintenance
Photo Credit: Lucas Souza
about the neighborhood.
- MVP Resident
Our Dreams for MVP
MVP residents listed the following as the qualities they most want to see in their dream neighborhood: Care & Respect, All of it; Everything is good, Social Offerings, Recreation, Property Maintenance & Upkeep, Openness & Connection, and High-Quality Parks. Additional details about what resident had to say about quality can be found below:
- Care & Respect (13%): Community, Support; Welcoming/ getting to know each other/ communicating neighbors/ everyone to get along/ friendly; People take care of property/ upkeep
- All of it; Everything is good (11%): Everything is good/ This one right here/ Its already my perfect neighborhood. That's why I moved here and bought the house. People ask me to buy my house and I say no. / Like to live here/ Overall like the place/ Love it! Nothing but good things to say about the neighborhood/ Already great
“[My dream is…] for everyone to get along… more flowers, trash not on streets, community events…”
- MVP Resident
- Recreation (11%): Bigger playground
- Social Offerings (11%): Community events; More play equipment for children (like slides and monkey bars) in parks
- Property Upkeep & Maintenance (11%): Clean/ Clean streets/ Clean parks/ trash not on streets; Green grass; People taking care of property/ property upkeep; Better maintenance of lawns/ weeds
- Openness & Connection (10%): Welcoming/ getting to know each other/ communicating neighbors/ everyone getting along/ friendly; More cultural understanding of standards
- High-Quality Parks (10%): Traffic; Better park for bigger kids/adults so everyone can have fun; Big metal slide; Bigger monkey bars
Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio
Mount Vernon Park’s Vision
Mount Vernon Park’s Vision
Dream Tally (6 or more people)
Top Dreams by percent (6+)
MVP’s Biggest Strengths
Our community’s top ranked assets include Phonesthetics, Openness &Connection, Care & Respect, Everything/ No Complaints, Diverse People and Families, and Safety. Specific comments residents made regarding each strength are listed below:
- Phonesthetics (24%): It can be quiet/ peaceful (no trouble)/ no late-night noise/ tranquility/ not too much going on
- Openness & Connection (19%): Communicating with neighbors in the garden; Good neighbors/ nice/ friendly/ look out for one another/ know each other well/welcoming/ everybody gets along/ the people; A lot of retired people
- Care & Respect (19%): Neighbors and families know each other and look out for each other; Good neighbors/ nice/ friendly/ look out for one another/ know each other well/welcoming/ everybody gets along/ the people; Clean
- Everything; No Complaints (11%): It's good over here/ Good environment; Lovely neighborhood/ love it here/ like it
- Wonderful, Diverse People and Families (10%): Sense of family; You all are amazing!; The diversity/ I love the diversity
- Safety (8%): Kids can come outside with no worry/ kid friendly; There's no fights; Safety
“I love that the neighborhood is full of life and youth. The children of Mt. Vernon Park are the best part of all!
“The diversity, I stay for the diversity.”
- Mount Vernon Park Residents
Mount Vernon Park’s Assets
Asset Tally (5 or more people)
1- Phonesthetics 2- Openess/ Connection
2- Care/ Repect 3- All/ Everything is Great/ No complaints
4- People/ Diversity/ Family 5- Safety
Top Assets by percent (5+)
1) Phonesthetics- 24%
2) Openness/ Connection- 19%
2) Care/ Respect- 19%
3) All/ Everything is great- 11%
4) People/ Diversity/ Family- 10%
5) Safety- 8%
Mount Vernon Park’s Assets
1- Phonesthetics
2- Care/ Repect
people)
Openess/ Connection
It's quiet/ peaceful; there's not too much going on 2) Openness/ Connection
2) Care/ Respect
Good neighbors, it's friendly, everyone knows each other and gets along
Communicating with neighbors in the garden
A lot of retired people
Good neighbors, it's friendly, everyone knows each other and gets along
It's clean
Family & grandkids nearby
It's so inclusive (not segregated)
3) All/ Everything Lovely neighborhood; I love/ like it here It's a good environment 4) People, Diversity, Family
Sense of family
You all are amazing! 5) Safety
friendly & kid safe No fights Safety 1) Phonesthetics- 24% 2) Openness/ Connection- 19% 2) Care/ Respect- 19%
“Fix the sidewalks so they are safer for the kids.”
“Safety - Cars go too fast. I want signs posted for speed limit and kids and play signs.”
“Breaking barriers!”
MVP’s Biggest Challenges
Our community’s top challenges include a need for more- or improved- Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance, Traffic Calming, Nothing – everything is great, Care & Respect. Upkeep & Property Maintenance, Waste Management. See the descriptions below for additional details about each opportunity for improvement:
- Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance (21%): Repair sidewalks/ more sidewalks/ and curbs/ connect sidewalks; Repair streets
- Traffic Calming (18%): Slow down traffic (on Hanna) / install speed bump (on Winter)
- Nothing; Everything is great (12%): Everything is fine/ no idea what to improve; Barriers are being broken
- Care & Respect/ Property Maintenance & Upkeep/ Waste Management (12%): Clean up trash/ Cleaner (people throw trash in our yard); People not taking care of property
Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood Resident
Mount Vernon Park’s Opportunities
Liabilities Tally (4
or more people)
1- Infrastructure & Inf. Maint
2- Traffic Calming
3- Everything is Great/ No complaints
3- Care & Repect/ Property Upkeep & Maintenance/ Waste Management
Top Concerns by percent (4+)
1) Infrastructure/ Inf. Maint.- 21%
2) Traffic Calming- 18%
3) Everything is Great- 12 %
3) Care & Respect/ Property Maintenance & Upkeep/ Waste Management- 12%
1) Infrastructure & Inf. Maint Improve sidewalks Improve streets
2) Traffic Calming Slow down trafffic (on Hanna and Winter streets)
3) No Complaints
3) Care & Respect/ Upkeep & Maintenance/ Waste Mgt
Everything is fine/ no idea what to improve
Barriers are being broken
up trash/ stop throwing trash in yards People not taking care of property
Mount Vernon Park’s Opportunities
Liabilities Tally (4 or more people)
1- Infrastructure & Inf. Maint
2- Traffic Calming
3- Everything is Great/ No complaints
3- Care & Repect/ Property Upkeep & Maintenance/ Waste Management
Top Concerns by percent (4+)
3) Care & Respect/ Property Maintenance & Upkeep/ Waste Management- 12%
Summary of Listening Tour Results
When tallied in aggregate, the top 5 areas of focus (or praise!) in the Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood include: 1) Care/ Respect, 2) Openness/ Connection, 3) Phonesthetics, 4) Everything is great/Nothing is Wrong, and 5) Upkeep & Property Maintenance.
Overall Summary
Leaders and community stakeholders in Mount Vernon Park (MVP) Neighborhood are known for breaking down barriers and making strides! The community has seen a lot of progress in recent years with over $45 million invested in the renovation of Levan Scott Academy, construction of a new community health clinic, opening of a new early childcare center, ground-breaking for the renovation of Brewer Park, and infrastructure improvements. Additionally, the number of crime incidents in the neighborhood has fallen over 60% since 2013 according to the FBI’s uniform crime statistics. Perhaps, given that so many large improvements have been made, its not surprising that MVP residents are focused primarily on “smaller” improvements- with an emphasis on building social capital and relationships.
Neighbors love that MVP is a diverse and welcoming community and want that atmosphere of connection and support to grow stronger still. They describe MVP as a close-knit community where mutual respect, friendliness, and support are highly valued. For them, living in MVP means living among people who look out for one another and cherish the opportunity to build relationships across demographics of age, race, and ethnicity.
Looking to the future, MVP residents envision a neighborhood where more community events , volunteerism, beautification, and upgraded parks create opportunities for connection, improved aesthetics, and play. While informal gatherings, shared activities, and a commitment to inclusivity foster a sense of belonging and openness, some residents see opportunities to deepen cultural understanding and help new residents connect and adapt to the neighborhood’s shared values as opportunities to foster stronger relationships. MVP residents appreciate the neighborhood’s quiet atmosphere which makes the neighborhood feel safe and those who live there relaxed and at ease. Many are deeply satisfied with the current state of their community, highlighting a spirit of optimism in the community, and stating that they struggle to identify potential areas of improvement because MVP is “perfect” or their neighborhood of choice (rather than limitation or default).
When it comes to areas of potential improvement, MVP residents would like to see public spaces and upkeep of residential properties in MVP improved. Specific concerns include cleanliness, with an emphasis on lawn maintenance and litter-free streets. Traffic calming measures on “through streets” like Hanna, Smith, and Winter Street were also suggested to enhance pedestrian safety and reduce speeding. Finally, Brewer Park, the neighborhood’s 5-acre park is considered a valuable but underdeveloped asset. Residents would like to see more inclusive recreational opportunities for neighborhood residents all ages- and anxiously anticipating the completion of the park’s renovation (set to be completed in 2025) which will provide new amenities including expanded playgrounds, walking trails, art installations, a splashpad, and restrooms.
By addressing these concerns and building on its tremendous momentum and strengths, the MVP neighborhood will continue to grow, thrive and cultivate hope!
Summary of Listening Tour Results
When tallied in aggregate, the top 5 areas of focus (or praise!) in the Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood include: 1) Care/ Respect, 2) Openness/ Connection, 3) Phonesthetics, 4) Everything is great/Nothing is Wrong, and 5) Upkeep & Property Maintenance.
1) Care/ Respect - 13%
2) All/ Everything is great- 11% Recreation- 11%
Social Offerings- 11%
Upkeep/ Property Maintenance – 11%
3) Openness/ Connection – 10% Public Infrastructure: Parks- 10%
1) Phonesthetics- 24%
2) Openness & Connection- 19%
2) Care & Respect- 19%
3) Everything is good; no complaints- 11%
Top Concerns by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance – 21%
2) Traffic Calming- 18%
3) None/ Everything is great- 12% Care & Respect/ Upkeep & Property Maintenance, Waste Management- 12%
1) Care/ Respect- 15%- The MVP Neighborhood is built on a foundation of community, support, and friendliness. Neighbors envision their ideal neighborhood as one that is welcoming- characterized by mutual respect, caring, and support- and well maintained… and many residents think that vision has already been achieved! Several residents noted that people look out for one another and are sociable when they see one another in informal settings like backyards. However, while people in the neighborhood care for one another, some residents wish that attitude of care was more evident in the upkeep and maintenance of homes and properties. with some expressing concerns about litter from non-residents. (Additional details about property maintenance appear in item #5.) Suggestions for improvement include community trash pick-ups and flower planting.
2) Openness/ Social Connection- 13% - MVP residents value openness and connection, with a strong emphasis on being welcoming community where relationships between neighbors is fostered. They mention having a community that’s characterized by diversity and open communication- where everyone gets along- as both an aspiration and an existing strength. MVP survey responders describe their neighbors as friendly, nice, and supportive across demographics of age, race and ethnicity. For the most part, they feel adults and youth look out for one another. Another strength MVP residents noted is an abundance of opportunities to positively interact with each other through shared activities and spaces. While the community is well connected, there is always room for growth. Toward that end, MVP residents expressed an interest in increasing cultural understanding by having more opportunities for multi-cultural exchange (such as events for youth and multi-cultural potlucks) and learning opportunities that could provide new and immigrant residents with a primer in existing standards and practices.
3) Phonesthetics- 12% - In MVP, neighborhood residents appreciate the quiet and peaceful atmosphere their neighborhood offers. They enjoy the tranquility and- what they describe- as a lack of commotion and late-night noise. Many say that the overall sense of serenity makes they neighborhood feel like a place where visitors and residents can be relaxed, safe, and at ease.
Top Assets by percent (ranked top 3)
Top Dreams by percent (ranked top 3)
Summary of Listening Tour Results
When tallied in aggregate, the top 5 areas of focus (or praise!) in the Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood include: 1) Care/ Respect, 2) Openness/ Connection, 3) Phonesthetics, 4) Everything is great/Nothing is Wrong, and 5) Upkeep & Property Maintenance.
Top Dreams by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Care/ Respect - 13%
2) All/ Everything is great- 11%
Recreation- 11%
Social Offerings- 11%
Upkeep/ Property Maintenance – 11%
3) Openness/ Connection – 10%
Public Infrastructure: Parks- 10%
Top Assets by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Phonesthetics- 24%
2) Openness & Connection- 19%
2) Care & Respect- 19%
3) Everything is good; no complaints- 11%
Top Concerns by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance – 21%
2) Traffic Calming- 18%
3) None/ Everything is great- 12%
Care & Respect/ Upkeep & Property Maintenance, Waste Management- 12%
4) Everything is Great/ No Complaints- 11% - Survey results from MVP residents highlight a strong sense of neighborhood satisfaction and pride. When asked about their dream for MVP, many survey responders struggled to identify potential areas for improvement- expressing that they already consider the neighborhood to be perfect. Several residents mentioned that they chose to move and/or stay in MVP because they enjoy it so much and have no complaints. Others highlighted the community's hopeful atmosphere as a big strength- and commended neighborhood leaders for breaking down barriers.
5) Upkeep & Property Maintenance- 6%- MVP residents want all their community’s public and private property to be well-maintained and cared for. They mentioned clean streets and parks as priorities, alongside ensuring that residential properties have well-manicured lawns. As was mentioned earlier, MVP residents would like to see more progress made to reduce the presence of litter and improper waste disposal (i.e., the presence of trash, abandoned furniture, high weeds, etc.). One suggestion community members made to improve maintenance was providing volunteer opportunities to help seniors mow and maintain their lawns and maintain their properties.
6) Public Infrastructure (Parks)- 5% - Residents of MVP view Brewer Park- the 5-acre publicly owned park in MVP’s northeast corner- as a key neighborhood asset whose potential has not been fully realized. Residents suggest providing recreational opportunities that accommodate all age groups (from toddlers to retirees) would help improve Brewer Park’s quality and utilization. Suggestions related to children’s recreation are described in greater detail below.
7) Recreation- 5% - In Brewer Park and various pocket parks throughout the neighborhood, MVP residents want more opportunities for play to be available for a wider agerange of children and youth. Specific requests were made for bigger playgrounds with monkey bars and large slides.
Summary of Listening Tour Results
When tallied in aggregate, the top 5 areas of focus (or praise!) in the Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood include: 1) Care/ Respect, 2) Openness/ Connection, 3) Phonesthetics, 4) Everything is great/Nothing is Wrong, and 5) Upkeep & Property Maintenance.
Top Dreams by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Care/ Respect - 13%
2) All/ Everything is great- 11%
Recreation- 11%
Social Offerings- 11%
Upkeep/ Property Maintenance – 11%
3) Openness/ Connection – 10%
Public Infrastructure: Parks- 10%
Top Assets by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Phonesthetics- 24%
2) Openness & Connection- 19%
2) Care & Respect- 19%
3) Everything is good; no complaints- 11%
Top Concerns by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance – 21%
2) Traffic Calming- 18%
3) None/ Everything is great- 12%
Care & Respect/ Upkeep & Property Maintenance, Waste Management- 12%
6) Social Offerings- 5% - The MVP neighborhood envisions a future with more opportunities for residents of all ages to socialize and meet one another. In addition to enhanced play equipment, resident recommendations included having more community events like block parties, concerts, and culturally-themed dances.
6) Traffic Calming- 5% - According to MVP residents, traffic calming- particularly the need to slow down traffic on “through streets” like Hanna, Smith and Winter- is a high priority. Resident recommendations included distributing “kids at play” signs, and installing more stop signs and sidewalks to reduce incidents of speeding and improve safety for adult and youth pedestrians.