FTB Neighborhood – Listening Tour
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont Listening Effort - Tour Tallies
Number of people/ households participating: 25 (2.5%)
Number of issues brought up (across all categories)
Door to Door: 46
Block Party: 8
• Dreams: 20
• Assets: 18
• Liabilities: 14
• Dreams: 5
• Assets: 6
• Liabilities: 3
Quantity of votes (across all categories)
Door to Door: 100
• Dreams: 34
• Assets: 37
• Liabilities: 29
Block Party: 14
• Dreams: 5
• Assets: 6
• Liabilities: 3
Study Dates: July & August, 2024 I Volunteers/ Walkers: 10
(NPAW, Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont Association members and residents, LSN)
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont Listening Tour Overview – Engagement Events
Door to Door Survey
24 (households/ surveys)
Block Party (Adults/ Teens)
1 quizzes completed
46 input points (fill-in boards)
100 dots (dot boards)
1 surveys
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont Listening Tour Overview – Tools Used & Purpose
24 Door to door surveys
1 Block Party surveys
(Adult Engagement to determine focus areas)
July
1 Adult
(Assess understanding of neighborhood basics & conditions; gauge reaction)
August
46 input points
100 dots
(Types of projects & Education about Neighborhood)
August
Quiz Results – Understanding & Community Response
Listening Tour Overview – Quiz Outcomes: Understanding of Neighborhood & Stats
Boundaries: 0% Fully Correct
Crime Rates: 100% Correct (decreased)
Houses: 100% Correct
People: 100% Correct
Percent Occupied: 100% Incorrect
Percent of rentals: 100% Correct
Median home value: 100% Correct
Family Household/size: 100% Correct
Persons with a disability: 100% Correct
Learned something new: 100% yes
What surprised you most: Family size
Likelihood of coming to future events: 10
Likelihood of inviting neighbors to future events: 10
Future Event Feedback: More Block Parties
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont – Survey Results
Top Focus Areas of each Listening Group
Door to Door (Adults)
1. Infrastructure & Inf. Maint.
2. Openness & Connection
3. Any/Everything is great
4. Landscaping/ Lawncare
4. Phonesthetics
5. Atmosphere
5. Care/ Respect
5. Safety
24 surveys
Block Party (Adults)
1. Public Infrastructure (Parks)
2. Infrastructure (streets, parking, lighting, etc.)
3. Phonesthetics
3. Safety & Crime Reduction
1 survey
Photo Credit: Lucas Souza
La verdad todo me gusta de mi vecindario. Por que puedo vivir tranquilo sin sentir miedo de no comer o tener un buen futoro
(The truth is I like everything about my neighborhood. …Because I can live peacefully without being afraid of not eating or having a good future)
- FTB Resident
Our Dreams for FTB
Our neighbors listed the following as the qualities they most want to see in their dream neighborhood: Infrastructure/ Infrastructure Maintenance; All of it; Everything is good, Aesthetics, Property Upkeep & Maintenance, Landscaping/ Lawn, Traffic Calming
- Infrastructure/ Infrastructure Maintenance (31%): Well-lit walking/ biking path; Nice Streets/ repaired streets; Nice sidewalks/ repaired sidewalks; Nice alleyways
- All of it; Everything is good (10%): It's perfect/ I like everything about my neighborhood/ This!/ Just be like this; It's improving; Don’t know [what could make it better]
- Aesthetics (10%): Look clean; No vacant homes or lots; A park in the triangle; More flowers
- Property Upkeep & Maintenance (10%): Less trash/ Clean; Yards well maintained; Cleaning up behind dogs
- Landscaping & Lawns (7%): More trees and plants; More flowers; Yards well maintained
- Traffic Calming (5%): Traffic calming/ Speed Bumps
Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont’s Vision
FTB’s Biggest Strengths
Our community’s top ranked assets quiet Openness/Connection, Phonesthetics, Atmosphere, Infrastructure/Infrastructure Maintenance, Public Infrastructure: Parks, and Safety
- Openness/ Connection (20%): Good relationships; everybody likes everybody; everybody is friendly; good neighbors; we all know each other; people seem friendly enough
- Phonesthetics (15%): Quiet/ It’s pretty quiet; Nice and quiet (no gun shots); Peace and quiet
- Atmosphere (13%): Quiet; Nice and quiet (no gun shots); Peace and quiet
- Public Infrastructure/ Parks (13%): Kettler Park is great; recent park improvements; the park is a great place for dogs; kids seem to enjoy the playground
- Infrastructure/ Infrastructure Maintenance (13%): Good roads (no big potholes); they’re quick about lighting fixes; new sidewalks; Parking is only on one side of the street (it makes it not so congested)
- Safety (13%): Safe space for kids to play; I like it here/ I live peacefully without being afraid of not eating or having a good future/ Living here was a must. We like Fort Wayne; crime is low
“I'velivedherefor2years.Ilikeit. Everybodyisfriendly. Weallknoweach other.
- Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont Neighborhood Association Resident
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont’s Assets
Asset Tally (5 or more people)
1- Openness/ Connection
Public Infrastructure (Parks)
Infrastructure & Inf. Maint.
Safety
Top Assets by percent (5+)
1) Openness/ Connection– 20%
2) Atmosphere – 15%
3) Public Infrastructure (Parks)– 13% 3) Phonesthetics- 13%
3) Infrastructure & Inf. Maint. - 13%
Safety- 13%
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont’s Assets
3) Infrastructure & Inf. Maint
“Some may need help with lawn care”
Fairfield
Terrace/
Belmont Neighborhood Youth “Alley ways are not being taken care of by residents. Improving Belmont and McClellan Street are a good start along with repairing sidewalks. Would like to see a walking track around Kettler Park.
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont Neighborhood Resident
FTB’s Biggest Challenges
Our community’s top challenges include a need for more- or improved- Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance, Care & Respect , Landscaping/ Lawncare, Pocket park, Public Infrastructure/ Park, Safety, Social Offerings. See the description below for additional details:
- Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance (22%): Better lighting; Alleyways are not cared for (by residents); Improve Belmont and McClellan/ improved drainage on streets; Repair/ improve sidewalks; Ramp from street to driveway is too steep
- Care & Respect (12%): Help with lawn care/ help for people in need (like those with autistic children); Stop stealing Kroger carts; Communicate with neighbors instead of calling 311 (or Code or 911) right away; Improved community interaction
- Landscaping/Lawncare (12%): Flowers in triangle/ improve triangle; Help with lawn care/ help for people in need (like those with autistic children); Trim and cut grass
- Pocket Park (7%): Flowers in triangle/ improve triangle; Pocket parks at 5000 Buell
- Public Infrastructure/ Park (7%): Move the basketball court further from playground (to avoid kids hearing foul language); More benches are needed; Would love to see a walking path around Kettler park; Splashpad
- Safety (7%): Safety, there's a lot of crime; Stop stealing Kroger carts
- Social Offerings (7%): Meeting more neighbors; Community interaction; Communicate with neighbors instead of calling 311 (or Code or 911) right away
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont’s Opportunities
Liabilities Tally (more than 3 people)
1- Infrastructure & Inf. Maint. 2- Care & Respect
2- Landscaping/ Lawn 3- Pocket Park
3- Public Infrastructure: Parks 4- Safety
5 - Social Offerings
Top Concerns by percent (3+)
1) Infrastructure/ Inf. Maint.- 22%
2) Care & Respect- 12%
2) Landscaping/ Lawn- 12 %
3) Pocket Park- 7%
3) Public Infrastructure: Parks- 7% 3) Safety- 7%
3) Social Offerings- 7%
Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont’s
Liabilities Tally (more than 3 people)
Top Concerns by percent (3+)
3) Pocket Park
Public Inf: Parks
Safety
Summary of Listening Tour Results
When tallied in aggregate, the top 5 areas of focus (or praise!)- in the Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont neighborhood include: Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance; Openness/ Social Connection; Everything is great; Phonesthetics & Public Infrastructure/parks tied for 4th, and Landscaping/ Lawncare and Safety tied for 5th.
Top Dreams by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Infrastructure & infrastructure maint.– 32%
2) Aesthetics- 11%
All/ Everything is Great– 11%
Upkeep / Property Maintenance – 11%
3) Landscaping/ Lawncare- 5%
Traffic Calming – 5%
Top Assets by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Openness/ Connection- 20%
2) Phonesthetics – 15%
3) Atmosphere- 13%
Infrastructure & infrastructure maint.- 13%
Public Infrastructure/ Parks- 13%
Safety- 13%
Overall Summary
Top Concerns by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance – 22%
2) Care/ Respect- 12%
Landscaping/ Lawncare- 12%
3) Pocket Park- 7%
Public Infrastructure: Parks7%
Safety- 7%
Social Offerings- 7%
The Fairfield Terrace Belmont (FTB) Neighborhood has grown a lot over the years, and neighborhood residents can see the difference!
Residents of the Fairfield Terrace Belmont (FTB) neighborhood take pride in their community’s cooperative, yet quiet and safe atmosphere, as well as recent- and continued!improvements to their public infrastructure, including both roads and parks. When they picture the future of their neighborhood, FTB residents paint a picture of a welcoming, beautiful community where they can feel both safe & secure and socially connected.
Each of these aspirations can come about by building upon the existing neighborhood’s existing strengths as well as the momentum created by Neighborhood Association leadership in partnership with City departments and staff. For example, in Kettler Park- where FTB here residents value recent playground equipment improvements and would like to see additional amenities in the way of a splash pad, a well-lit walking/biking trail, and increased ADA accessibility- FTB association members can leverage their relationship with the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation team to develop a neighborhood park masterplan that prioritizes installation of additional amenities and improvements. Similarly, when it comes to making additional infrastructure improvements- like enhanced and drainage on key streets- and initiating new beautification initiatives- like community pocket parksresidents will benefit from continued partnership with the Division of Public Works. Finally, while residents appreciate FTB’s supportive atmosphere, they would like to experience 1) even more evidence of community pride- in the way of lawn maintenance, less litter, and fewer abandoned grocery carts, 2) more collegial communication- with neighbors discussing concerns with one another before reporting them to City departments or staff, and 3) more events, opportunities, and opportunities to convene, have fun with one another, and develop stronger relationships. Each of these changes can occur when FTB taps into its greatest assets- the FTB residents and leaders themselves!
Fort Wayne’s Department of Neighborhoods staff is confident that with a clear plan and steadfast resolve, the leaders of Fairfield Terrace Belmont will transform these resident aspirations into neighborhood achievements- fostering a vibrant community that reflects the shared values of its residents.
Summary of Listening Tour Results
When tallied in aggregate, the top 5 areas of focus (or praise!)- in the Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont neighborhood include: Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance; Openness/ Social Connection; Everything is great; Phonesthetics & Public Infrastructure/parks tied for 4th, and Landscaping/ Lawncare and Safety tied for 5th.
Dreams by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Infrastructure & infrastructure maint.– 32%
2) Aesthetics- 11%
All/ Everything is Great– 11%
Upkeep / Property Maintenance – 11%
3) Landscaping/ Lawncare- 5%
Traffic Calming – 5%
Top Assets by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Openness/ Connection- 20%
2) Phonesthetics – 15%
3) Atmosphere- 13%
Infrastructure & infrastructure maint.- 13%
Public Infrastructure/ Parks- 13%
Safety- 13%
Top Concerns by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance – 22%
2) Care/ Respect- 12%
Landscaping/ Lawncare- 12%
3) Pocket Park- 7%
Public Infrastructure: Parks7%
Safety- 7%
Social Offerings- 7%
1) Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance - 23%- In Fairfield Terrace Belmont, residents value the layout and recent improvements of infrastructure in their neighborhood with several mentioning the condition of roads, timely lighting repairs, new sidewalks, and the parking configuration near Kettler Park (which helps to reduce congestion) as neighborhood assets. However, while progress has been made residents would like to see additional improvements in the way of better-lit walking and biking paths, more well-maintained alleys, and street improvements- including enhanced drainage. Some also note the need for sidewalk repairs and less steep street-to-driveway ramps for better accessibility.
2) Openness/ Social Connection- 9% - Fairfield Terrace Belmont residents value the feeling of familiarity and culture of connection in their neighborhood, expressing that their neighbors in FTB are socially “open” and highlighting strong relationships, friendliness, and a sense of cooperation. Neighbors in FTB know and support each other. Residents also mentioned that they see and appreciate the improvements that have already happened. Some even went so far as to say “it’s perfect!” While most express being content with FTB’s overall social atmosphere, some see room for increased neighborly interaction, encouraging 1) direct communication with neighbors before involving external services like 311 or Code Enforcement and 2) more community events and opportunities to have fun and grow relationships with others in the neighborhood.
3) Everything is Great- 8% - Many Fairfield Terrace Belmont residents are overwhelmingly positive about their neighborhood, expressing that “The truth is, I like everything about my neighborhood.” They feel the community is in a great place, with some- as was mentioned above- describing it as "perfect." While completing their surveys, several residents even struggled to come up with suggestions for improvements, with one saying he/she/they had “no clue” how it could get any better.
4) Phonesthetics- 7% - Residents of Fairfield Terrace Belmont place a high value on the peaceful atmosphere of their neighborhood, frequently noting its quiet nature as a major asset. They emphasized how nice it is to enjoy the peace and quiet with no disruptive noises (like gunshots). With so many residents noting the neighborhood’s tranquility as an element that contributes to their overall satisfaction of living in the community, it’s no wonder that some neighbors express concern about increased noise levels generated by the detonation of fireworks throughout the summer months.
Top
Summary of Listening Tour Results
When tallied in aggregate, the top 5 areas of focus (or praise!)- in the Fairfield Terrace/ Belmont neighborhood include: Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance; Openness/ Social Connection; Everything is great; Phonesthetics & Public Infrastructure/parks tied for 4th, and Landscaping/ Lawncare and Safety tied for 5th.
Top Dreams by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Infrastructure & infrastructure maint.– 32%
2) Aesthetics- 11%
All/ Everything is Great– 11%
Upkeep / Property Maintenance – 11%
3) Landscaping/ Lawncare- 5%
Traffic Calming – 5%
Top Assets by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Openness/ Connection- 20%
2) Phonesthetics – 15%
3) Atmosphere- 13%
Infrastructure & infrastructure maint.- 13%
Public Infrastructure/ Parks- 13%
Safety- 13%
Top Concerns by percent (ranked top 3)
1) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance – 22%
2) Care/ Respect- 12%
Landscaping/ Lawncare- 12%
3) Pocket Park- 7%
Public Infrastructure: Parks7%
Safety- 7%
Social Offerings- 7%
4) Public Infrastructure: Parks- 7%- Residents of Fairfield Terrace Belmont view Kettler Park as a key neighborhood asset, appreciating 1) the recent improvements, 2) that its playground is a fun space for kids, and 3) that it can be a great spot for dog owners to meet and give their pets an opportunity to socialize and get some exercise. When it comes to recommended improvements, residents suggest moving the basketball court away from the playground so that younger kids hear less inappropriate language, adding more benches, and creating a walking path around the park. The most popular suggestion to improve Kettler Park was the recommendation to install a new splash pad.
4) Safety- 7% -While most Fairfield Terrace Belmont residents express that they feel safe and are free of fear in their neighborhood, some expressed concern about criminal activity (i.e., suspected drug use)and nuisance crimes like the theft and abandonment of shopping carts in their neighborhood. Otherwise, the majority of neighborhood residents who mentioned neighborhood safety expressed appreciation their community’s low crime rate, noting that the FTB neighborhood provides a peaceful environment where parents and grandparents have peace of mind allowing children to play outside.
5) Landscaping/ Lawncare- 5% - In the Fairfield Terrace Belmont neighborhood, residents envision a more vibrant landscape with more trees, flowers, and well-maintained yards. Suggested improvements include beautifying community spaces like the triangle area and providing lawn care assistance to residents in need, such as families with autistic children. Desired enhancements include better upkeep of private residence’s landscaping- including grass, trees, and shrubs.
5) Atmosphere- 5% - Residents of the Fairfield Terrace Belmont neighborhood value that the atmosphere of their neighborhood is not only peaceful- as was mentioned in the phonesthetics focus area- but also cooperative. In particular, FTB residents highlighted how safe the neighborhood is for children, and how supported by their neighbors.
5) Care/ Respect- 5% - Improving overall community interaction and pride were mentioned as areas for continued growth in FTB. Several tactics to improve pride and social can be found in the above focus areas, including: improved lawncare and maintenance, less theft and abandonment of shopping carts, and mutual aid efforts for neighbors.