Neighborhood Services DivisionINSPIRING AND EMPOWERING JOPLIN NEIGHBORS TO CREATE STRONG, SAFE AND VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS

What is a neighborhood?

“A neighborhood is a geographic location approximately ¼-½

square mile in size containing 500-2000 residents, with major

geographic boundaries such as roads, streams, railroads or non-

residential areas that contain a combination of similar housing

types, retail services and community gathering space (parks) within

½ mile walking distance.”

What is a Vibrant Neighborhood?

A Citizen’s Strategy for a Vibrant Neighborhood

Relationships SharingAssociations/

OrganizationsVibrancy

It Starts with Neighborliness

• Lower crime rates

• Increased quality of life

• Loneliness decreases

• Lower high school drop out rates

• Increased physical health

• Vulnerable are cared for

Get to Know Your Neighbors

• Introduce yourself door to door

• Share produce, baking or other homemade goods

• Start a Facebook or Nextdoorgroup

• Throw a party

• Walk your street

• Work in your yard

• Spend time on your porch and wave or talk to passersby

Share your Gifts, Skills, Abilities, and DreamsStory: people sharing storm shelters

Start groups and clubs that support one another’s interests or rally around a cause• Walking groups

• Gardening groups

• Biking groups

• Kid’s Play group

• Sports group

• Book club

• Historic Preservation

• Neighborhood Covenants

• Community Gathering Place

Neighborhood Services StrategyDeveloping a process for VIBRANCY

Identify Assess Engage Communicate Plan Educate Improve Vibrant

Neighborhood Identification

• N e i g h b o r h o o d B o u n d a r i e s a n d N a m e s

• H i s t o r i c N e i g h b o r h o o d s

• N e i g h b o r h o o d s w i t h A s s o c i a t i o n s

• N e i g h b o r h o o d I m p r o v e m e n t D i s t r i c t s

• C o m m e r c i a l / I n d u s t r i a l A r e a s

• S p e c i a l A r e a s ( U n i v e r s i t i e s , H o s p i t a l s , A i r p o r t s )

Neighborhood Branding

Neighborhood Assessment

CRITICAL CONDITION

Blighted & Dangerous

AT RISK

Passive Residents

STABLE

Clean & Safe

HEALTHY

Informal Connections

VIBRANT

Engaged & Connected

• Measures the overall well-being of a neighborhood

• Involves information from research and surveys

Citizen Engagement• Host a block party

• Start a Neighborhood Facebook or Nextdoorgroup

• Volunteer to clean up your neighborhood

• Become a liaison with the City

Communication

Start a Nextdoor group

Become a liaison with the City of Joplin

Neighborhood Planning

• Collaborate to build consensus

• Residents shape their future

• Guides future development

Education

• Citizenship

• Neighborliness

• City codes and code enforcement

Meeting with Joplin Landlords at the Southwest Missouri Rental Housing Association

Improvement

Citizen-Led Initiatives• Neighborhood Clean-

ups• Investment in

property• Community Events

City-Led Initiatives• Firm Code

Enforcement• Volunteer

Opportunities• Neighbor Connect

Program

Code Enforcement General Info

• 4 Neighborhood Improvement Officers

Enforcement Process

• Routine inspection

• Send Notice

• Re-inspection

• Compliance/Send to Mow/Write Ticket

• Court Process

Statistics

• Average of 5000 cases per year

• 2000 grass cases

• 500 garbage cases

• 60 court cases/year

Commitment• Vibrant neighborhoods are the result of strategic collaboration

• Citizens

• Community organizations

• Faith-based organizations

• The City

• Vibrant of Great Neighborhoods

• Take the lead

• Have a collaborative approach

• Include all people groups

• Engage their community on multiple levels

Vibrant neighborhoods don’t happen, they are built.

Questions?