Safety & Placemaking
We work with residents and partners to ensure resident safety through the development of public spaces where residents of all ages can interact and engage in activities that better support positive health outcomes and strengthen community spirit, cultural, physical and psychological safety outcomes.
Our goals include:
• Increase safe public green spaces in the neighborhood.
• Increase traffic safety and reduce speeding in the neighborhood
• Decrease urban blight and address environmental concerns in the neighborhood
• Improve the public perception of Metcalfe Park to ensure the emotional and racial safety of residents
Traffic Safety
There are several street crossings and hotspots in Metcalfe Park that residents have identified as dangerous for children and adults. We will work with residents to create and communicate requests for stop signs, speed bumps and protected bike lanes in these areas, aimed at reducing the number of accidents and injuries resulting from traffic and speeding.
Safe Spaces
Public spaces that encourage congregation and activity are core to promoting a safe community. We plan to redesign current neighborhood parks and provide positive programming in parks and repurposed vacant lots to cultivate a natural environment specific to Metcalfe Park.
Public Perception
The media frame on Metcalfe Park influences many areas of our day-to-day lives, including how residents feel about our neighborhood. Our objective is to promote an increasingly positive neighborhood image by developing the way our organization understands and tells the Metcalfe Park story. Moving forward, we also have plans to develop and install unique community signage in the neighborhood to continue to reinforce a positive, unified community identity among residents.
Vacant Lots
When foreclosed or abandoned properties are not quickly turned over, they add to blight and vacancy problems in our neighborhood. We would like to work with the city and residents to protect these areas by cutting down bushes, planting flowers and ensuring secure boarding. We plan to conduct safety walks to identify a hierarchy of environmental concerns that must be addressed.
For more details on our strategies, view our 2020 Community-Led Investment Plan.