Vivian Neal is Knight's program director in Fort Wayne and Akron.
Being the program director for both Fort Wayne and Akron, my first impulse is naturally to contrast the two communities to see how our study findings differ in each one. This year, I was surprised by how much the findings in both communities reflected one another. In both communities:
- Residents' attachment to their communities is driven by social offerings, aesthetics, and openness, in that order.
- Residents give high ratings to two beautiful systems of parks, playgrounds, and trails, as well as two top-notch higher education programs.
- Openness and social offerings suggest opportunities for improvement.
- The most attached residents tend to be 65 or older and widowed.
Given all these similarities, why is it that Fort Wayne comes in above average among all Knight communities for community attachment while Akron comes in below average?
The key ingredient for Akron to focus on seems to be basic services, especially the area's highways and freeways and affordable housing. Residents indicated that these features are important for their community.
That said, Fort Wayne should also continue working on new ideas and listening to organizations like the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana and the Active 20-30 Club. The young college graduates are examining ways they can support Indiana’s Graduate Retention Program to combat Indiana’s brain drain with internship programs and other initiatives.
Both communities can take pride in having qualities residents cherish, and both communities must continue working to build on their strengths and address their opportunities.
I look forward to hearing your take on the findings in the study.
Tags: local perspectives
Having lived in both places for a number of years, there seem to be other differences. Akron is a thoroughly urban area, used to heavy industry and in close proximity to other major urban areas (Cleveland, Canton). Fort Wayne preserves more of its agricultural roots, and is near no other large urban area. Akron seems to look inward to its industry, while Fort Wayne looks outward to its farms. Akron peole are able and willing to pay for amenities, such as the exceptional Metroparks system, and supports National and State Parks within the county, perhaps due to the highly urbanized nature of the area. Fort Wayne barely supports its city and county parks (metropolitan parks not permitted by state law), with no state or national parks in the county. Local park organizaiton have consistently lost government support over time, and are cruising on their old reputations. Studies show that small business that bring the most growth see open space/parks as a top priority. If an area deisres to attract these entrepreneurs, they must make that their top priority also.