Community Assessment: Manchester, New Jersey

Choose 14 sections of section 1 thru 27 to write about
Housing.
What is the age and condition of housing in the neighborhoods you’re surveying?
Are houses and apartment buildings kept up, or are they run-down and in need of repair?
Are yards neat or overgrown?
Other buildings.
Are the buildings mostly or fully occupied?
Do public and commercial buildings seem accessible to people with disabilities – ramped, street level entries, etc.?
Public spaces.
Are there public spaces where people can gather?
Are they well kept up? Do they have seating areas, trees and plants, attractive design, cafes or food vendors, or other features meant to encourage people to use the space?
Who uses these spaces? Is there diversity?
Parks.
Are parks used by a variety of people"
Are they well kept up?
Are there sports facilities – basketball courts, soccer pitches, baseball fields, cricket pitches, etc.?
Are they used at night?
Culture and entertainment.
Are there museums, libraries, theaters, restaurants, clubs, sports stadiums, historic sites, etc.?
Are they accessible to all parts of the community (centrally located, reachable by public transportation)?
Do they reflect the cultures of community members?
Streetscape.
The streetscape is the environment created by streets and the sidewalks, buildings, trees, etc. that line them. Are there trees and/or plants?
Are there sidewalks?
Are building facades and storefronts attractive and welcoming?
Are the streets and sidewalks relatively clean?
Are there trash cans?
Is there outdoor seating?
Street use.
Are there people on the streets at most times of day?
In the evening? How late? Do they interact with one another?
Are streets and sidewalks well lit at night?
Commercial activity.
What kinds of businesses are there?
Are there boarded-up or vacant storefronts? Is there a mix of large and small businesses?
Are there grocery stores and supermarkets, pharmacies, and other stores that provide necessities in all parts of the community?
Signs.
What languages are business signs in?
Are traffic signs informative?
Are there signs directing people to various parts of the community (downtown, museums, highways, etc.)?
Industry.
What kinds of industry exist? Does it seem to be causing pollution?
Land use.
How much open space is there?
How are residential, commercial, and industrial areas distributed?
Do major roads or railroad tracks divide neighborhoods, or are they on the edges of the community?
Infrastructure.
What is the condition of roads, bridges, sidewalks, etc.?
Are there differences in these conditions from one area of the community to another?
Do all parts of the community seem to be equally served by electricity, water, phone, fiber optic, wastewater treatment, waste disposal, and other infrastructure services?
Public transportation.
Is there a functioning public transportation system?
Is it well used? By whom?
Does it allow relatively easy access to all parts of the community?
How easy is it to navigate and use?
How much does it cost? Are its vehicles energy-efficient?
Traffic.
How heavy is traffic in the community?
Is it mostly commercial and industrial – vans, trucks, etc. – or mostly private cars?
Is there ever gridlock?
Is there much bicycle traffic? Are there bike lanes?
Are there bike racks in many places?
Environmental quality.
How much usable green space is there, and is it scattered throughout the community?
Is there smog or haze?
Does the air smell of smoke, garbage, car exhaust, chemicals, industrial waste, etc.?
Does the water in streams, ponds, lakes, etc. seem reasonably clear?
Race/ethnicity.
Who lives in the community?
Are there identifiable racial and ethnic groups?
Do particular groups seem to live in particular areas?
Faith communities.
What kinds of religious institutions are there?
Do the institutions of one particular religion or sect dominate?
Are there separate houses of worship for people of different ethnicities or races, even if they share the same faith?
Health services.
How many hospitals and clinics are there in the community?
Where are they located? How big are they? How easy are they to get to?
Community and public services.
Are there identifiable community service providers and organizations in the community – mental health centers, food banks, homeless shelters, welfare offices, etc.?
Are they concentrated in a particular area? Are they easy to reach by public transportation?
Community safety.
Where are police and fire stations located?
Are they in good repair? Is the community well-lit at night?
Higher education.
Are there two- and four-year colleges and/or universities in the community?
Where are they located? Do they seem open to the community, or do they seem self-contained and isolated?
Political activity.
Are there signs or other indications of political activity?
Is it clear that political activity is allowed and/or encouraged? Are there protests or demonstrations?
Community organizations.
What evidence is there of organizations in the community?
Are there service clubs – Lions, Elks, Masons, etc.? Are there other organizations – centered around community issues, the environment, sports or leisure pursuits, socialization, etc.?
Media.
Are there local media outlets – radio and TV stations, newspapers, Internet sites devoted to local issues?
Are they independent, or are they sponsored or run by government or corporations?
Where are their facilities?
Differences among neighborhoods or areas of the community.
What are the differences among different parts of the community?
Are schools, stores, public and other buildings, streets, etc. in different areas in different condition?
Do some areas seem neglected, while others are clearly maintained?
The “feel” of the community.
What is your overall impression of the community?
Public schools.
Are schools in different neighborhoods in noticeably different states of repair?
Are schools well maintained?
Or in some developing countries, are there schools in the community at all?