Post-Pilot Survey
Thank you for taking the West Main Hill Play Street Survey! The post-pilot feedback survey is now closed. 339 responses were received from residents.
WEST MAIN HILL PLAY STREET: PROJECT OVERVIEW
The West Main Hill Neighborhood Association and a group of parents who are seeking places for active play came together to create Kalamazoo’s first ‘Play Street’.
“Play Street” is not a new concept outside of Kalamazoo. In fact, there are significant studies that attribute several benefits to neighborhoods across the globe including:
Improving Children’s Health and Wellbeing – Play Streets give children space and freedom to get exercise, play freely, gain independence, and make friends close to home.
Encouraging Active Citizenship – Play Streets are a form of community action to positively change the way people interact with one another.
Building a Stronger Community – Play Streets help children and adults to build connections, friendships, and gain trust between neighbors of all ages and backgrounds.
We believe that locally we will also experience additional benefits:
Slower traffic through the West Main Hill neighborhood
A new safe place for children and adults to play
Increased safety from car hazards for those playing in Jones Park
Another joyful neighborhood activity hub
A case study for the City to explore opening other streets to people
The Play Street is a paved, car-free zone for children and adults to walk, play, and ride bikes/ scooters/ skateboards. The proposed Play Street is at the base of Jones Park (directly south of the park). The proposed Play Street would be located on Peake Road between Woodside and Valley (see map).
WEST MAIN HILL PLAY STREET: WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
The Neighborhood mission statement is “to promote the quality of life and welfare of the residents of the West Main Hill Neighborhood, as part of the surrounding community, through constructive projects, programs, and activities.” We believe that the Play Street will support the mission of the neighborhood through a project that has been proven to be beneficial in several other cities.
In recent years, several residents have expressed that:
Motorists frequently drive too fast around Jones Park and fail to stop at the stop signs. Click here to view crash data.
Many of the streets surrounding Jones Park do not have sidewalks, forcing pedestrians to walk and roll in the streets.
Residents have observed an increase in illegal late-night parking along the base of Jones Park.
On October 31, 2021 two cars were parked at the base of Jones Park, and people fired guns. Police verified the firing of guns at least 15 times through identified bullet casings.
WEST MAIN HILL PLAY STREET: ACTIVATION PLAN
To test the ‘Play Street’ idea, the city supported a four-month pilot in 2022, which consisted of:
Temporarily closing Peake Rd. and Circle St. to automobiles between Woodside and Valley while maintaining bicycle and pedestrian access for people to access Jones Park and use the pavement for play.
Working with the City to study the effects of the Play Street activation on traffic calming, impact to EMS, access for Kalamazoo College facilities, and placemaking opportunities for residents.
Hosting neighborhood events in the Play Street during the summer to help build a sense of community and improve our health and wellbeing. This included activities such as ribbon cutting, picnics, and a new annual youth event, the Kids Market.
Rolling out a robust engagement strategy to encourage residents to participate in the post-pilot feedback survey, which included:
two rounds of mailers,
door hangers,
social media,
neighborhood newsletter announcements,
print flyers, and
several 1:1 interviews with residents who live directly across from Jones Park.
The survey was made available for residents to take online, request physical copies, and provide feedback by phone.
In total, we received 339 survey responses as part of the post-pilot evaluation. Based on the 2022 post-pilot survey and staff review, it was determined that the Play Street will be re-installed as early as June 8, 2023.
Residents leading this initiative had voiced the preference to pursue a permanent closure of the road as a feature of this Play Street. As part of the post-pilot evaluation, survey participants were asked of their opinion on exploring a hybrid model as an alternative to permanently closing Peake Rd. and Circle St. to vehicular traffic 100% of the time. This would result in creating a plan for when the street may be open to cars and when it may closed to cars during the year. In some communities with play streets, residents decide upon a regular schedule of street closing times. Some play streets are closed to car traffic seasonally (ex. summer only), while others are closed on weekends, or during certain times each day. Based on the survey results (see below), it was determined that most survey participants did not want to explore a hybrid option.
On a scale of less likely to more likely, survey participants were asked to rate how likely they would support the Play Street based on the following changes/improvements:
Survey participants were also asked about suggested improvements to the Play Street area. To address residents’ feedback captured from the survey, improvements and other amenities will be installed at Jones Park over the course of the next few years as funding allows. The top improvements/amenities identified were more seating, improved barriers, improved signage, and enhanced placemaking elements. Further engagement around additional placemaking and programming for the Play Street area will take place at 2023 summer events.
The water-filled barriers that will be installed, will remain in place all year around. Staff will continue to monitor the area and respond to challenges that may arise with appropriate adjustments. The Play Street will become an extension of Jones Park and be maintained by the City’s Parks & Recreation Department. Public Works staff will review over the next year and work towards decertifying Peake Rd. and Circle St. in accordance with Act 51 legislation as a result of closing these streets to car traffic. This area will remain open to pedestrian and bicyclists thru-traffic. If residents observe any concerns or problems as part of the project, please report to 311.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Team:
Jae Slaby – Neighborhood Activator, CPED
Dennis Randolph- Traffic Engineer, Public Works
George Waring- Sr. Civil Engineer, Public Works
Patrick McVerry- Director, Parks & Recreation
Ashton Anthony- Deputy Director, Parks & Recreation
Scott Brooks - Fire Marshal, Public Safety
Connie Carroll - West Main Hill Board President
Nora Houk - West Main Hill Resident
Jen Stroven - West Main Hill Resident
Daniel Bair - West Main Hill Resident
Objectives:
Pilot the Play Street concept in Kalamazoo
Gain experience from the pilot to assess if the concept could be applied in other neighborhoods
Monitor and slow traffic in the West Main Hill neighborhood and around Jones Park
Provide a new safe space for children and parents to play
Activate Jones Park and add a neighborhood hub for residents
Schedule:
Four-month pilot ran between May and September 2022
Post- Pilot evaluation from Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
Survey results and presentation to neighborhood December 2022
Staff planning and review February 2023
Play street Reinstallation slated for June 8th 2023
Neighborhood engagement around improvements and amenities for the Play Street area Summer 2023
Ongoing monitoring and evaluation by city staff
Partnerships:
West Main Hill Neighborhood Association
Staffing:
Public Services
Community Planning and Economic Development
Parks & Recreation
Public Safety
Consistent with Plans:
Strategic Vision Goals:
Connected City, Complete Neighborhood, Inviting Public Places, Safe Community, Youth Development
Metrics:
Traffic Data, Impact to Critical Services, Resident Feedback
Budget:
To Be Determined
Funding Source(s):
Foundation for Excellence - Momentum Building Projects