By Patrick Filbert, Program Manager
The Green Neighborhood Challenge represented a conscious, concerted effort to DO MORE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENING. Efforts like this are key to moving forward as a joint, environmentally conscious community. NeighborSpace called and you answered with 164 responses to our Green Neighborhood Challenge Survey.
The survey was aimed at collecting more data on where open space is lacking and what kinds of open space, amenities, and programming resonate with people. Many different topics were noted in this survey and could be broken down endlessly, such as complaints about trash, invasives, and steep slopes. After the analysis, however, 10 Key Takeaways stuck out. The results are as follows:
NeighborSpace started by asking people about themselves…
The results reflect the NeighborSpace mailing list and emphasize the fact that the majority of our supporters are white women over 50. This brings us to…
Key Takeaway #1: The Racial Gap
As the chart shows, only 12.9% of the respondents were Black compared to 26.1% of the County. This is unfortunate as NeighborSpace is heavily involved in the majority-Black communities around Woodlawn, East Towson and Turner Station. Clearly this is a problem given the organization’s pledge to give voice to the challenge of structural racism. In response, NeighborSpace has:
- Committed to diversifying the membership of its board. In November, Aaron Barnett, President of the Powhatan Farms Improvement Association and VP of the International Longshoreman’s Association Local 333 joined the board.
- Committed to improvement of the sites owned in majority-Black communities and to strengthening the work of our stewardship partners in those communities. In the last several months, and with the help of so many of you, NeighborSpace has:
- Raised almost $5,000 to support design and initial construction of a new park in Turner Station;
- Secured $35,000 for construction of a new park on Flannery Lane in Gwynn Oak;
- Applied for $107,000 in funding to improve the trails and green infrastructure at Powhatan Park in Lochearn;
- Secured $1800 in funding to work with the Powhatan Farms Improvement Association, our partner at Powhatan Park, on a new website and begun the process of building that site;
- Applied for $3500 in funding to work with the Northeast Towson Improvement Association, our stewardship partner at Adelaide Bentley Park in Historic East Towson, on development of a new website, and an additional $1500 to support new plantings at the park.
- Committed to the development and implementation of a planting plan at Graystone Community Open Space in Woodlawn.
Key Takeaway #2: The Gender Gap
Men make up 47.3% of County residents and yet represented only 32.9% of respondents. Again, this begs a couple questions. Is taking care of the earth and/or the community considered to be a woman’s role? Do men require a different marketing approach to make the work of NeighborSpace attractive? More is to come on these questions, but one obvious remedy has to do with programming: Do a better job focusing on activities that men may be more interested in, such as cornhole, horseshoes or bocce ball, which is something toward which we’ve already made progress.
Key Takeaway #3: The Age Gap
Nobody who took the survey was under the age of 30. This is a major issue as it is crucial that NeighborSpace prepare the next generation to be stewards of our land and communities. How does the organization make its work cool? How does it get the younger generation involved? A couple of action steps in response to these findings include:
- Start young by focusing on kid-friendly events that will not only bring out children, but young parents as well.
- Have an increased and more focused presence on social media.
Moving on…
Beyond those graphs, additional data revealed six zip codes with significant numbers of respondents:
- 21286 – East Towson/Hampton (20)
- 21228 – Catonsville (19)
- 21093 – Lutherville-Timonium (17)
- 21212 – North Baltimore/Lake Roland (15)
- 21207 – Lochearn (15)
- 21222 – Dundalk (14)
Looking at this data takes us to…
Key Takeaway #4: Lack of Response from the Eastern Part of the County
Despite the presence of two parks on the east side, two-way communication with these communities is sparse. And yet NeighborSpace knows that open space and other needs are great in many places within the East County. Strategies for addressing these findings include:
- Increase outreach efforts in the communities around existing sites at Norman Creek (Essex) and Volz Neighborhood Park (Middle River).
- Host a community event on site at the Volz Park Trail in 2021, following its completion and subsidence of the pandemic.
Moving on…
Key Takeaway #5: People Aren’t Using Their Community Parks Enough
The problem with this data is that, while 51.2% know of a site in their community, only 37.4% of respondents actually use that site. If you’re following the math this means over one-quarter of respondents have a park in their community that they DO NOT USE. And these are people who are active followers of NeighborSpace!
Beyond that, 48.4% of people didn’t use a site in the community because they didn’t realize it was there until they saw it on the map. Others identified barriers to site usage such as walkability and programming. The upshot here is that:
- NeighborSpace must do a better job of marketing its sites; and
- The organization must build internal capacity to provide the right programming, events and amenities to bring people out.
This brings us to a couple more key takeaways regarding how people want their parks to be used…
Key Takeaway #6: People Want Free Tree Giveaways (Based on a Scale of 1 “Not Interested” to 5 “Very Interested”)
Solution? NeighborSpace is in the process of planning a tree giveaway with Blue Water Baltimore in the Spring in Towson. Hopefully, it will be the first of many.
Key Takeaway #7: People Want Programming
In what exercise/sports programming would you participate?
Top Responses
- Fitness: 62.1%
- Yoga: 58.9%
- Bocce Ball: 31.6%
- Cornhole: 31.6%
- Horseshoes: 5%
- Volleyball: 24.2%
- Badminton: 22.1%
- Dance 18.9%
Short-term reactions to these results:
- Consider which parks would be a good fit, connect with the right yoga and fitness instructors for outdoor events as soon as the pandemic allows and promote.
- Take another stab at the Newburg Ave. Bocce Ball League.
Beyond programming…
Key Takeaway #8: People Want Events at Their Parks
What activities should be included with a special event?
Top responses:
- Music (81.9%)
- Food (81.2%)
- Educational Activities/Workshops (74.6%)
- Games (54.3%)
- Alcoholic Beverages (37%)
What types of special events are of interest to you?
Top responses:
- Live Music Series (73.9%)
- Fall Themed (68.1%)
- Spring Themed (64.5%)
- Summer Themed (54.3%)
- Winter Themed (43.5%)
- Speaker Series (39.1%)
What workshops would you be interested in attending?
Top responses:
- Tree Planting/Pruning (64.7%)
- Invasive Plant ID & Removal (63.2%)
- Tree, Plant or Animal ID (59.4%)
- How to Create/Maintain a Vegetable Garden (54.1%)
- How to Create a Rain Garden (47.4%)
What can NeighborSpace do with this feedback?
- Identify areas of highest demand for special events with food and live music.
- Identify good parks for workshops led by NeighborSpace Staff and connected nonprofits such as Audubon Society, Living Classrooms, Baltimore Bird Club, and Blue Water Baltimore.
Beyond wanting event at their parks, people are willing to pay to attend (based on a scale of 1 “Not Interested” to 5 “Very Interested,” as shown in the chart below).
Key Takeaway #9: A Fundraising Event is a Good Idea
- Using the backdrop of either a special event or a workshop, NeighborSpace has the opportunity to use on-site events to procure more funding to do everything else on this list!
- Towson is a key area for a fundraising event with 27 people in Towson saying they would be happy to pay a fee to attend an event.
Aside from events and programming, people want a lot of things out of their parks, including:
- Nature-related amenities, such as:
- Bat House (67.6%)
- Bird Feeder (63.4%)
- Bee Hive Box (59.3%)
- Bird Bath (49%)
- Community-related amenities, such as:
- Walking Path (92.7%)
- Seating (76.8%)
- Little Free Library (41.7%)
- Playground (35.8%)
The thing is, to have the capacity for these kind of amenities as well as the rest of our goals, NeighborSpace will need more than just funding; we require your assistance as volunteers. Fortunately, many of you are eager…
Bringing us to…
Key Takeaway #10: NeighborSpace Retiree Conservation Corps
Given that 75% of our survey takers and much of our mailing list is above the age of 50 and many of you are willing to volunteer, we would like to move forward with an idea we have been working on called the Retiree Conservation Corps. Essentially the idea is that this would be a group of dedicated individuals who have the time for and can make volunteer work a priority. This would be a tight knit group who would complete the necessary training to become active stewards of our sites. If you are interested…
- Follow Up Survey – Please Complete to let us know what you think!
Many respondents identified potential new sites, which we appreciate very much. Obviously, making those choices public may have a negative impact on the ability of NeighborSpace to acquire the sites. The organization is evaluating the recommendations and will be in touch with those who made them as to the outcome of the review.