Physical changes abound in Weinland Park, a neighborhood of 4,800 residents just southeast of The Ohio State University. Old, boarded-up houses have given way to new and renovated homes, tulips bloom where empty parking lots once sat, and corner carry-outs that were a hub for crime and drug activities have been shuttered for good.
So, how have these efforts, most developed and implemented by the Weinland Park Collaborative (WPC), a collection of public, nonprofit, philanthropic, civic, and educational organizations and businesses, moved the needle in terms of the overall health and well-being of this neighborhood and its residents?
“When people feel better about their community, it is apt to be reflected in many different ways.”
—Michael Wilkos
In 2016, a survey funded by The Columbus Foundation, in conjunction with the WPC, was conducted by The Ohio State University’s Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. Intended to act as a tool to evaluate investment efforts, it offers a snapshot of where things stand today, and where future investments could be made. The survey also serves as a way to understand shifts in perspective in the neighborhood, when compared against a 2010 survey conducted by The Ohio State University International Poverty Solutions Collaborative.
Significant findings:
- 72% feel the neighborhood is getting ‘better,’ compared to 37% in 2010 / an increase of
35 percent - 62% of renters say they would be willing to purchase a home in Weinland Park, compared to 39% in 2010 / an increase of 23 percent
- 77% believe the neighborhood has a pleasant appearance, compared to 34% in 2010 / an increase of 43 percent
- 62% of respondents participate in community organizing, compared to 29% in 2010 / an increase of 33 percent
- 74% feel that it is safe for children to play outside during the day, compared to 55% in 2010 / an increase of 19 percent
Read the full 2016 Weinland Park Collaborative Neighborhood Survey