FOCUS AREA NARRATIVES

The focus area narratives, which provide an assessment of the focus areas identified on the previous page, are included below.

FOCUS AREA A

TIER 1 The near downtown neighborhoods are some of the densest in Columbus, and they’re expected to get even more dense with the development of new multi-family residences. These neighborhoods also have a high number of households earning an income below the poverty level. These census characteristics, the physical barriers presented by Central Avenue and 3rd Street, and the lack of low-stress bicycle routes within the near downtown neighborhoods make this location a particular area of focus.

FOCUS AREA B

TIER 1 The neighborhood south of State Street has a high number of households earning an income below the poverty level and is completely isolated from the bicycle network by State Street. Although this area isn’t identified as dense by the census data, the inclusion of agricultural land south of the neighborhood within this census block group makes this data misleading. The neighborhood, considered on its own, is highly dense. This neighborhood also has a high percentage of children.

FOCUS AREA

TIER 1 Focus Area C is moderately dense and is home to a high percentage of individuals above the age of 65. This neighborhood is isolated from the low-stress bicycle network by 10th Street and U.S. 31, both of which lack bicycle and pedestrian facilities. This neighborhood also lacks access to the Haw Creek trail. Although the trail crosses to the east side of Haw Creek near 25th Street, this area has not been provided with a direct connection.

C

Focus Area D

TIER 1 Completely surrounded by 25th Street, Washington Street, Central Avenue, and U.S. 31, residents from this dense neighborhood cannot access the bicycle network without facing a challenging roadway barrier. This area is also home to the school campus that includes Columbus North High School, Northside Middle School, Schmitt Elementary School, and St. Bartholomew Catholic School, making it an important destination for residents living outside of the area. This neighborhood additionally has a high percentage of children.

Focus Area E

TIER 1 Forest Park and its nearby neighborhoods are highly dense and lack direct access to the bicycle network. Although the Westenedge Drive shared use path is immediately to the east, these residents cannot access the path without traveling along U.S. 31 or Rocky Ford Road.

Focus Area F

TIER 1 This dense neighborhood is isolated from the Haw Creek Trail, which is located on the east side of Haw Creek, and residents from this neighborhood cannot access the Middle Road path without traveling along U.S. 31. This neighborhood, which has a high percentage of children, has no safe access to the low-stress bicycle network.

FOCUS AREA G

TIER 1 This highly dense neighborhood lacks safe access to the low-stress bicycle network. Internal streets from this neighborhood do not provide access to the low-stress bicycle route on 30th Street and Marr Road, while crosswalks are present, could still be a barrier to accessing the Haw Creek trail, located on the west side of the street.

TIER 1

FOCUS AREA H

This highly dense neighborhood is home to the city’s census block group with the highest percentage of households earning an income below the poverty level. This neighborhood is isolated due to Taylor Road and 25th Street.

FOCUS AREA I

TIER 2 Although they’re not shown as dense areas on the map due to the size of the census block groups, Shadow Creek Farms and Wildflower Estates are highly dense neighborhoods along County Road 200 South. Other than Shadow Creek Farms’ access to the path on the south side of 200 South, residents from these neighborhoods cannot access the city’s low-stress bicycle network. This area also has a high percentage of children.

FOCUS AREA J

TIER 2 Tipton Lakes and the surrounding residential developments represent the densest areas on the west side of Columbus. Due to barriers presented by Goeller Boulevard and State Road 46 residents in this area lack safe access to the low-stress bicycle network. This area is comparatively affluent so residents in these neighborhoods likely bike for recreation and/or by choice. However, the density and location of the area elevates it to a Tier 2 focus area.

FOCUS AREA K

TIER 2 Although current census data does not identify this area as a high priority location for access to the low-stress network, a housing development with over 300 lots (Abbey Place) is currently under development in this area. This new development will increase the density in this census block group, and due to U.S. 31 and Indianapolis Road, the area is highly isolated from the existing bicycle network.

TIER 2

FOCUS AREA L

Area L is a moderately dense neighborhood that doesn’t have direct access to the lowstress bicycle network. Reaching the low-stress facilities to the east and west could be challenging, particularly for children.

TIER 2

FOCUS AREA M

Area M is completely isolated from the low-stress bicycle network by U.S. 31, 25th Street, and Taylor Road. Although this area doesn’t stand out for its high density or high poverty rate, its complete isolation heightens it to an area of focus.

TIER 2

FOCUS AREA N

This area does not stand out for its high density or high poverty rate. However, it is isolated from the low-stress bicycle network by Rocky Ford Road and reaching the low-stress network to the west could be challenging. This area also has a growing 65+ population.

FOCUS AREA O

TIER 2 Although this area does not have a census indicator, Prairie Stream Estates, a dense cluster of residences, and the other residents along Talley Road lack close access to the low-stress bicycle network.