Gary, Ind. - MD
The information in our study covers the Gary, Ind., Metropolitan Division.
In each community, the Soul of the Community Study identified factors that emotionally bond residents to where they live. Some of these community characteristics were rated highly by residents, and are therefore community strengths while others were rated lower, making them opportunities for improvement. This information can provide communities a roadmap for increasing residents’ emotional attachment to where they live, which the study found has a significant relationship to economic vitality.
In the Gary area, social offerings (fun places to gather), aesthetics (an area's physical beauty and green spaces) and openness (how welcoming a place is) are the most important factors in emotionally connecting residents to where they live.
Education, aesthetics and basic services (community infrastructure) were perceived as community strengths. In particular, residents rated highways - along with parks, playgrounds and trails - the best aspects of aesthetics. In basic services, highways remain the highest-rated aspect. However, area residents rated local colleges and universities significantly lower in 2009, putting them almost on par with K-12 public schools.
Social offerings and openness were seen as areas needing improvement. There was a significant drop in ratings of nightlife and perceptions of the area as a good place to make friends in 2009, as well as the community's perceived openness for families with young children.
Not surprisingly, ratings of the local economy were down significantly in 2009, however the economy is still not a key factor emotionally connecting residents to their communities.
Residents who feel a strong emotional connection to the area are most likely older, retired, rural-dwelling, lower income and new residents. Those least likely to have an emotional connection are married, part-time employed, urban-dwelling and long-term residents.
