Darbo-Worthington-Starkweather Neighborhood Plan Community Meal and Open House 6:30pm 8:30pm on Nov 10, 2016 Salvation Army Approximately 27 Darbo Worthington Starkweather (DWS) residents attended the Community Meal and Open House on November 10 th, 2016. City staff gave a short presentation about the results of previous public input during the Darbo-Worthington- Starkweather Neighborhood Planning process and shared some examples of potential short and long term projects for the neighborhood. City Staff: Susan Morrison and Nancy Dungan from Community Development. Jule Stroick, Linda Horvath, Angela Puerta and Ruanda McFerren from Neighborhood Planning. Long-Term Potential Projects As part of the planning process, the Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) has allocated nearly $145,000 of federal funding to be spent in the neighborhood. Nancy Dungan gave a presentation of how these federal funds could be spent in the neighborhood. She also provided the following examples of projects that have been implemented with CDBG funding through past neighborhood plans. Pedestrian Lights in business district on E. Johnson St. Development of community gardens in Atwood and Leopold Neighborhoods Community Land Trust Housing project in Tenney/Lapham neighborhood Purchase and installation of sun shelter at Eken Park Support for the development of the FEED Kitchen Incubator on the Northside After residents asked various questions about federal expenditures, City staff shared the following potential eligible projects for the Darbo- Worthington- Starkweather Neighborhood: Purchase a portion of the Salvation Army building for use by a non-profit serving community needs Construction of a pedestrian/bicycle bridge and installation of aesthetic pedestrian lighting across Starkweather Creek at Hermina Street Construction of an outdoor patio space at East Madison Shopping Center for Hawthorne Library and other placemaking uses Acquisition/design/construction of affordable or co-housing on Hermina or Milwaukee Streets Install Community Gardens at Salvation Army Site Install Splash Park at Meridan Apartments or other viable site Worthington Park improvements (e.g. water line near shelter) Install canoe/kayak launch sites along Starkweather Creek Acquisition of vacant site (e.g. East Washington Avenue sites)
Help seniors remain in homes e.g. walk-in shower, rails, hand grips, ergonomics Construct restrooms at Worthington Park, larger shelter where people can cook food maybe indoor or outdoor Acquire Salvation Army parking lot for development (similar to a previous point) After the City staff presentation, attendees proposed other potential projects. City staff will carefully consider the feasibility of these projects: Install pedestrian flashing light at Dixon/Creek crossing Milwaukee. e.g. Waubesa/ Milwaukee Street Paint crosswalk at Fair Oaks Avenue, Webb Avenue, and/or Furey Avenue for better access to Thurber Park Put up an ice rink at Worthington Park during the winter with a blacktop that could be used for roller hockey during the summer Repair current flooding at Worthington Park Acquire money for ice rink operation staff will talk to Parks Division. Repurpose existing vacant structures that could be converted to businesses, providing jobs for residents Identify sites to use Community Land Trust model for affordable housing Provide Darbo Drive/Webb Avenue extension for economic development Divide Salvation Army lot for housing and other needs Bike/ped bridge with landing for canoe to connect Hermina Street sections Improve street lighting with LED lights Install benches along Starkweather Creek Create kayak/canoe and picnic area at Starkweather Creek Short-Term Potential Projects Based on previous community input, City staff presented some potential projects that could be developed in the neighborhood. Subsequently, attendees added other potential projects. The participation of DWS residents is vital to successfully accomplish these projects. The City can provide some guidance and technical assistance to develop each of the projects. Although there is not funding allocated for short-term projects through this Neighborhood Planning process, City staff can help identify resources and/or grants in conjunction with motivated residents that are available to lead those actions. Attendees received 3 in order to vote for the short-term project ideas that they considered most important for the DWS neighborhood. Below is the short-term project list with the resulting number of dot votes. Nature interpretive signs along Starkweather Creek 0 Bike path way-finding signage 1 dot All City Men s Group (Darbo Pilot) 9 Programming/placemaking in Reger Park 0 Programming/placemaking in Worthington Park 12
Syringe pick up pilot program 1 dot Pollinator plantings along Starkweather Creek 0 Dog walking group 0 Safe Routes to School 3 Women s fitness and wellness group 1 dot 2-hr. parking on Rosemary 1 dot 2-hr. parking on Hermina 0 2-hr. parking on Oak 0 Farmers market in Darbo 6 Formally organize kids for Home Chores (Seniors) 2 Temporary art throughout the community - 2 Clean-up restoration with neighbors 4 1. CLEAN UP Group Deborah Sellers: dsellers@uwalumni.com Andrew Wetzel: andwetzel@gmail.com Chris Wood: cwood0@hotmail.com Gary Karch: garykarch@att.net Definition: Clean up along Starkweather Creek near the old McDonald s site and the bike bridge Leaders of the group: Deborah Sellers (temporary) Other participants: Andrew, Chris, Carol, Gary and possible others Funding and/or other resources: No other funding needed Next Steps: Meet January 17 th, 2017 to identify other neighborhood areas and dates for clean ups, look for possible further actions (e.g. flower planting) location and time to be announced. The group already did the first clean up on November 20 th from 12m-1:30pm. Shared kitchen space (e.g. food incubator, healthy snack) 1 dot Painted garbage cans place at Mobile Gas Station and other highly used areas 6 Full outdoor kitchen (e.g. tent) @Worthington 1 dot Capital funding raising for watch programs 2 Benches along Starkweather Creek 0 Lighting Design for streets 9 After the voting period, City staff asked attendees to form groups and create action plans for the five project ideas that received the most. Meeting attendees created 5 different groups and action plans as shown below: 2. LIGHTING Group Kristopher Steege-Reimann: reimannk@gmail.com Dan Neff: dann54321go@gmail.com Gretchen Aviles Pineiro: gavilespineiro@cityofmadison.com
and end date in late Feb. In conjunction with the ice rink, they would have a winter carnival perhaps timed with the Salvation Army's open house. Leaders of the group: Nicole Wetzel is willing to lead the effort and serve as a go between groups. Definition: Discuss feasibility of upgrading cobra head roadway lighting to LED lighting that will improve light quality in high crime areas, lower lighting costs and reduce carbon emissions. Leaders of the group: Kristopher Steege-Reimann and Dan Neff Other participants: Gretchen Aviles Pineiro Funding and/or other resources: Private financing, grants, lighting design help from Kristopher, and HUD money. Next Steps: a) Gretchen will talk with Brian Smith, City Engineer, regarding lighting conditions and options b) Put together proposed evaluating economics, lighting quality, preferred rate structure with MGE and RFP process c) Secure money for project d) Complete project 3. WORTHINGTON PROGRAMMING Group Major Greg Voeller Gregory_Voeller@usc.salvationarmy.org Jay Ferm, jayferm@gmail.com Nicole Wetzel, nicole.fivepennies@gmail.com Gwenna Wetzel Naomi Wetzel Amber Corbit, carleyad@yahoo.com Definition: The group would like to have an ice skating rink in Worthington Park for the winter of 2016/17. The start date would be soon as possible Other participants: Those who participated in the table discussion are willing to help with completion. They could use some more volunteers as well. Funding and/or other resources: Frozen Water is the biggest resource. Amber Corbit and Nicole Wetzel are going to contact Lowell School and Goodman Community Center for ice skates. Major Gregg Voeller said that the Salvation Army would be willing to store skates and check them out during times when the gym is open. Next Steps: a) Contact Lauren Cnare, Heritage Heights Neighborhood, who helped develop an ice rink in Heritage Heights Park, and John Pohlman, Hillington Green area of Regent Neighborhood Association, (608) 238-0053. b) Contact Adopt Ice Partnership through City Parks Division regarding future coordination with volunteers efforts to establish and maintain a neighborhood ice rink: http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/voluntee r/adoptice.cfm Also contact Mike Sturm of City Parks: msturm@cityofmadison.com c) The group needs to have another meeting for winter carnival planning. At this meeting they will set a date and begin to organize volunteers. 4. Farmers Market Group Participants for future discussions: Jenny Green: jenny@shushudesign.com Amber Corbit: carleyad@yahoo.com Jayney Reuter: jayneyr@gmail.com 5. All City Men s Group Participants for future discussions: Jay Ferm: jayferm@gmail.com
Kristopher Steege-Reimann: reimannk@gmail.com Major Greg Voeller Gregory_Voeller@usc.salvationarmy.org The group will contact Clifton Davis, from Goodman Community Center, to discuss project in more detail and determine best role for neighborhood residents.