swot analysis comm services - city of madison, …€¢ east washington frontage road parcels...

Darbo - Worthington - Starkweather

Neighborhood Plan

Community Services (DRAFT)

This SWOT analysis includes input collected from stakeholder interviews and neighborhood meetings and events.

Please add your input below.

Strengths Weaknesses

Threats Opportunities

• G.R.O.W. program through Department of Corrections for juveniles• Women of Worthington• Mentoring Positives programs• Joining Forces for Families• Service providers in the area have seen increased participation over time• Community centers are well-used by youth• Madison Reading Project• Salvation Army

• No full-service, community-driven neighborhood center in Darbo/ Worthington area• Not being able to help/get enough people to utilize the services provided • Lack of participation in available services• Lack of funding opportunities

• Abundance of low-paying jobs in and around the planning area• Negative perception of Salvation Army• Residents not taking advantage of services

• Fiber optics will be connected to every housing unit• Strengthening the relationship between the Salvation Army and the City • Improving the capacity of various community services • Redevelopment areas could improve the depth of services• College preparatory programming• Women’s fitness groups


Neighborhood Plan

Gateways and Aesthetics (DRAFT)





• Gateway convergence of at least five major roadways• Relatively recent reconstruction of East Washington has benefited the aesthetics of the area• Starkweather Creek wetland area has been improved (embankments, path along the creek)

• No branding for Gallagher neighborhood (Blooming Grove)• Visual aesthetics: unattractive gateways and corridors• Access is somewhat limited in a few of the main entrances to the neighborhood

• Two of the highest capacity arterials in the City• Current neighborhood sign for Worthington Park isn’t prominent• Some of the area is isolated because of the large transportation corridors

• Way finding signs on the Capital City Trail/Starkweather Creek Path• More significant identity for the Gallagher neighborhood (Blooming Grove)• Many prominent features in the neighborhood to capitalize on (Starkweather Creek, parks, etc.)


Neighborhood Plan

Health (DRAFT)





• Very central area for people to commute to the downtown by bike or public transportation• Famers market operates outside of the Hawthorne Library• Variety of food pantry options

• Minimal access to fresh produce• Lack of affordable, healthy places to eat • Only one vendor is at the Farmers market• No workout/fitness center• Lack of sidewalks in parts of the neighborhood

• Little space for increased food access • Abundance of fast food options• Ease of access to convenience store-style foods at gas stations in the area

• Convenient area to allocate and program activity centers• Opportunity to conserve current open/ natural spaces• The grocery store coming into Union Corners could offer increased access to healthy foods• UW Health Clinic at Union Corners• Sports/fitness center in the neighborhood


Neighborhood Plan

Housing (DRAFT)





• Wide range of housing values• Variety of housing types/options• Future Union Corners development will add more housing units• Affordable rents

• Aging housing stock • Rental management issues• Finding ways to address the transient population, stabilize turnover of residents

• Segregation of apartments with residents that have high community service needs• Need for stronger paths to ownership• Demand for housing that is affordable

• Plentiful affordable rental and owner- occupied housing options• Infill opportunities to provide more affordable units• Retrofit or upgrade aged homes and apartments• Plans for cohousing/affordable units in Union Corners


Neighborhood Plan

Parks and Open Space (DRAFT)





• Starkweather Creek banks recently stabilized • Pollinators and other flora/fauna habitants• Starkweather Creek offers some recreational space for residents and visitors• Community Gardens• Parks have been recently updated • Worthington Park• Area not park deficient• Many walkable parts of the neighborhood

• No recycling bins in parks• Worthington Park is not welcoming for social events, no seating (benches) and the shelter is too small• Thurber Park and Reger Park do not have water fountains or restrooms• Limited MSCR programs• Worthington Park amenities don’t meet desires • Demand for community gardens • Outdoor programs for youth • Poor accessibility at Thurber Park• Loitering in various areas such as rail road next to the Voit farm

• Safety issues along bike paths• Inappropriate activity/behavior at night at Worthington Park• Negative impact of Emerald Ash Borer

• More playground for toddlers in the overall area• More user-friendly parks• Use/functionality of Dixon Greenway • Converting some of Dixon Greenway into community gardens• More trees and general revitalization for parks• Canoe/kayak creek program activities and route to Lake Monona - boat to work, etc.• Bike paths for program recreation options• Kayak/canoe landings along Starkweather Creek• Future Goodman Path along RR corridor connecting the neighborhood• Voit farm open space for nature• More programming for neighborhood events• Increased interaction with Starkweather Creek


Neighborhood Plan

Redevelopment and Business (DRAFT)





• Close proximity to Madison College• Presence of Hawthorne Library• Variety of small businesses in the area• Large regional employer (Department of Corrections)• Attractive location along a major transportation corridor• Variety of different types of employers in close proximity• Low vacancy of storefronts

• Perception of high crime area• Salvation Army redevelopment• Madison East Shopping Center is dated• Accessibility to the neighborhood• No neighborhood-serving businesses• Lack of participation in the employment skills training program• Other abundance of predatory businesses• Department of Corrections interface with the neighborhood• No business association

• Uncertainty if Hawthorne Library will relocate in the near future• Uncertainty if Public Health office will relocate• Drug/safety concerns within the neighborhood• Perception of gentrification with redevelopment happening• Employment for residents in redevelopment sites/future businesses (local employment)• No new investment in commercial buildings

• Holy Cross Lutheran relocation • Vacant bank property (East Washington and Oak) redevelopment• East Washington frontage road parcels (former Pizza Hut, McDonald’s)• New Darbo to Webb street connection will make that area more attractive for redevelopment• Milwaukee St. light industrial and commercial uses provide areas for future redevelopment• Food-based local employment• Living wage jobs, training and apprenticeship for young people


Neighborhood Plan

Safety (DRAFT)





• Neighborhood Police Officer • Informal network of community members keeping an eye out for crimes, etc.• Ban list for businesses on East Washington

• Perception of crime in Darbo neighborhood• Safety issues on the Marsh Creek Bike Path (underneath Hwy 30)• Starkweather Creek Bike Path is not well lit in certain places• Pedestrian safety crossing E. Washington• Lack of sidewalks in some areas

• Drug dealing at gas stations and other visible areas• Crime seems to be caused primarily by outsiders• Starkweather Creek Bike Path can feel unsafe• Perception of Darbo/Worthington as an “unsafe area”• Youth walking to/from school takes a while, and can be unsafe• Lack of respect for Darbo from outsiders

• Changing the perception of the area as “unsafe”• Building a positive relationship between youth and police • Placing more lighting/other safety measures (emergency phones) along the bike paths


Neighborhood Plan

Transportation (DRAFT)





• Capitol City Trail connection to neighborhood• High speed, high volume traffic on East Washington Ave. and Hwy 30 for visibility and business development• Bus routes to/from public schools• Many options for different modes of transportation• Two bike trails in the area • Bike/pedestrian bridge over East Washington• Added speed bumps

• Unsafe vehicular/pedestrian/bike travel on Milwaukee St. due in part to parked cars traffic speed• High volume of cars parked along Webb St. impedes traffic flow• Pedestrian/bike conflict at Starkweather Creek Bike Path and Milwaukee St.• High speed, high volume traffic limits access to neighborhood and decreases livability (noise pollution)• No B-Cycle Station• Difficult to bike on Milwaukee St.• No bus stops/routes in the Town of Blooming Grove

• Unsafe and inconvenient pedestrian/bike access to Madison East Shopping Center from surrounding residential streets• Safety issues and concerns on bike paths• Lack of connectivity of local streets• Natural barrier (Starkweather Creek)• Man-made barriers (East Washington and Hwy 30)• Necessary infrastructure improvements in most of Blooming Grove (streets, stormwater, sidewalks)• High cost of cab transportation• Parking for the Department of Corrections

• B-Cycle location• Starting construction on the “Goodman Path”• Better connection between the Stark weather Creek Path and the Capital City Trail• Updating the streets in Blooming Grove portion of the planning area• Providing more pedestrian connection and safety measures • Flashing lights for pedestrians/increased pedestrian safety on East Washington• Improved bus routes/frequency

swot analysis comm services - city of madison, …€¢ east washington frontage road parcels...

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