Giving the community a voice: Lessons learned from a comprehensive survey in an urban neighborhood

- The WPEP used a comprehensive and systematic approach to collect baseline data.
- Resident buy-in was increased by addressing short- and medium-term needs.
- Survey team members reflected area demographics and included residents.
- WPEP results are already being used by stakeholders to improve service delivery.

Weinland Park, an urban neighborhood adjacent to The Ohio State University, has been targeted for revitalization following several decades of disinvestment. The goal of these efforts is to develop holistic solutions that break the cycle of poverty. Such an undertaking requires collecting baseline data to understand community needs, inform programming, and guide revitalization efforts. This paper describes the development and implementation of the Weinland Park Evaluation Project (WPEP) - a collaborative and comprehensive neighborhood survey and needs assessment. Using the RE-AIM framework as a conceptual model, the paper describes how the WPEP was designed to meet short-, medium-, and long-term community needs. In addition, it offers lessons learned as a guide for researchers designing neighborhood surveys and conducting community assessments. An Appendix A includes indicators measured via the survey tool.