Safety and Placemaking -

Safety & Placemaking

We work with residents and partners to ensure resident safety that promotes and addresses public green space creation and access, traffic safety, environmental justice, and the effects of systemic racism.

We value the public spaces in Metcalfe Park; we are committed to keeping these spaces clean and safe. In 2021 we began redesigning Butterfly Park to be a place of safety and joy. We are looking to repurpose vacant lots, including our Healing Space, that will open in 2023.

OUR GOALS

Goal #1

Increase safe public green spaces in the neighborhood.

Goal #2

Increase traffic safety and reduce speeding in the neighborhood.

Goal #3

Decrease urban blight and address environmental concerns in the neighborhood.

Goal #4

Improve the public perception of Metcalfe Park to ensure the emotional, racial safety of residents.

OUR STRATEGY

Strategy #1

Redesign current neighborhood parks to cultivate a natural environment that is specific to Metcalfe Park, and provide positive programming in parks and repurposed vacant lots.

Strategy #2

Reduce the number of accidents and injuries because of traffic/speeding, focusing on 33rd, 34th, 35th and 36th, 37th Streets.

Strategy #3

Conduct safety walks to document areas of concern (i.e., overhanging trees, loose dogs, abandoned homes, vacant lots, critical property safety violations).

Strategy #4

Develop and install unique community signage in the neighborhood.

Traffic Safety

There are several street crossings and hotspots in Metcalfe Park that residents have identified as dangerous for children and adults. We actively work with residents to create and communicate requests for stop signs, speed bumps, and protected bike lanes in these areas to reduce the number of accidents and injuries resulting from traffic and speeding.

Safe Spaces

Public spaces encouraging congregation and activity are core to promoting a safe community. We have redesigned and implemented two parks and are redesigning a vacant lot in coalition with Healing Spaces Initiative.

Telling Our Own Story

The media’s frame and perception of Metcalfe Park influence many areas of our day-to-day lives, including how residents feel about our neighborhood, which can make things unsafe. We actively work to correct the narrative and tell the story of our beautiful, family-oriented and geniuses living within Metcalfe Park. Through media, art, and activities, we are seen and heard standing in our cultural power, joy, and resilience.

Reclaiming Our Land

When foreclosed or abandoned properties are not quickly turned over to people within our community, they add to blight and vacancy problems in our neighborhood. We create viable solutions around land and housing through our community-owned housing and land trust initiatives.