Village at Worthington Civic Assoc.

VWCA Neighborhood Survey- Spring 2007

Introduction

These results were compiled based on 28 surveys turned in to the VWCA as of 5/23/07.

Numerical responses were tallied in the following manner:

0 indicated no interest.
1 indicated little interest.
2 indicated interest.
3 indicated very interested.

The results are presented as percentages of people who responded. “Not in favor of” would be a response of 0 or 1, and “In favor of” would be a response of 2 or 3. These are presented in descending order of popularity.

Demographics - Current Services-New Service Suggestions

Section 1 - Demographics

Approximate number of years in residence
Out of 28 respondents, thirteen of them had lived here fifteen years or more.
The other respondents either didn’t list the number of years here, or were here for less than 6 years. There were 3 exceptions that have been here for 7, 10 and 11 years.
Ages
There were a total of 89 people represented by the survey ranging in age from newborn to 60-68 years old. The average age of the respondents 29.7.

Section 2 - Current services

100% of people were in favor of seasonal maintenance
96% were in favor of snow removal
93% were in favor of maintaining entryway lighting
91% were in favor of making capital improvements
89% were in favor of maintaining block watch updates and the VWCA hotline
82% were in favor of the neighborhood directory
82% were in favor of the quarterly newsletter
78% were in favor of the mulch sale
67% were in favor of the new resident welcome packet
57% were in favor of the holiday charitable donation project
53% were in favor of the holiday decorations contest
53% were in favor of the annual tailgate/ ice cream social
46% were in favor of the annual Easter egg hunt
35% were in favor of the VWCA website
35% were in favor of the biannual garage sale
25% were in favor of Santa visits

Section 3 – Ideas for enhanced services and new social functions

Service Ideas

64% were in favor of an electronic newsletter available as an automatic e-mail
57% were in favor of discounted health club memberships
46% were in favor of saluting the graduates
32% were interested in Flint park play dates
25% were interested in an outdoor home improvement contest

New Social Function Ideas

78% of people were in favor of having a block party.
67% were interested in a cookout.
39% were in favor of a pet parade
50% were in favor of a kid’s bike parade
60% were interested in having live or recorded music
39% were interested in an adult golf league or community golf tournament
35% were interested in an adult bowling league
32% were interested in a Browns/ Bengals bus trip
21% were interested in an adult softball league
14% were interested in a basketball league

Comments & Other suggestions ?– verbatim

• Home maintenance referral similar to Angie’s list.
• How about a special section in the directory for daycare/babysitters in the neighborhood?
• I’m sure not that donating my dues for charity is an effective use of funds.
• Make sure grandchildren are included in and invited to community events.
• Making charitable donations is a wonderful thing to participate in, but does not fall within the responsibilities of the civic association.
• We would be willing to pay $75/year if the primary use of the money was for capital improvements and seasonal maintenance, particularly the entryways. Rather than volunteer help we should hire the services of a landscape company to improve and maintain the entryways. Everyone benefits from a well-landscaped and maintained subdivision.
• Have and OSU/Michigan neighborhood tailgate party or spirit contest.
• Maybe have the community garage sale every year. Possibly a different fundraiser in addition to or instead of the mulch sale. Last year we paid the dues for the year but never received a directory. We would also like information about advertising in the community newsletter.
• Seasonal maintenance does not seem equal at both entrances.
• The neighborhood directory is too invasive of privacy.
• The block party should have picnic games, inflatables for kids and maybe face painting for the little ones.
• Thirty dollars a year is fair as long as a strong percentage of neighbors pay.
• We should get new signs for the entrances. Last year the plants grew up over the sign at Leaview, you couldn’t really see it.
• Anything to bring neighbors together; many don’t know their next door neighbors or even speak to them, especially if they are not of the same culture or ethnic background.
• Would pay as much as $100 for a program that checks on our senior citizens and offered snow removal and grass cutting at their residences.
• I don’t participate in all of the events that I rated an interest in. I rated them high as I feel that a community that stays connected and strong and property values stay high if activities and events continue to keep people together. My children are now older, but a solid community is one that has something going on for every age group. Word always goes around if people enjoy and are involved in their neighborhood. Its good for the people who live here and good if you want to sell your home, and your neighborhood is viewed as desirable. Possible suggestions: find vendors to offer group (neighborhood) discounts for services. Examples: spreading mulch, spring clean up, lawn aerations, driveway sealing etc. More help for the people who were dealing with the city on raised sidewalk issues. The city planted the trees 20 years ago at no cost to the people who said they would want them. Now the trees the city put up are raising up the sidewalks, and the city holds the residents responsible. We chose not to have a tree planted in front of our home, as I knew this would occur some day. The city should have known that too.

Section 4

Of all the respondents, only one answered that they thought $30 was fair. All others stated they would pay more for what they are currently receiving- in the range of $40-$100. The average amount was $45.00.