Shaping West Towson: what sticks out so far
West Towson Pulse Survey goals
This summer the West Towson Neighborhood Association launched the Neighborhood Pulse Survey to provide residents a way to voice their opinions and shape the future of their neighborhood. The Board thought it was critical to hear directly from as many residents as possible, rather than make assumptions about what residents wanted from the board. We heard from over 200 residents which reflect great representation from across West Towson.
Next steps
As a first step the Board will review and publish the survey results with the entire neighborhood. However, the real value is in bringing in active voices from around the neighborhood to help shape the response to the survey. The details are being finalized, but the hope is to host an open meeting with all interested residents to digest the survey results and determine a path forward for the issues that are important to residents. The only way for the survey to shape the future is for the Board to let it shape their activities and for residents to pull together to celebrate our strengths and take action to make improvements.
What sticks out so far
We are still compiling the full survey results to share, but so far we can share some interesting initial finding. Of the survey respondents 64% of respondents identified as female, 55% had lived in the neighborhood for over a decade, and 51% had children living at home. We were able to use statistical techniques to cluster four distinct neighbor types, each with slightly different attitudes and desires. These include Current Parents, Empty Nesters, Ex-urban Lifers, and Suburban Lifers.
Among the key findings, residents highly value walking distance to Towson, public school options, and close-knit relationships with neighbors in West Towson. However, the importance of these factors varies among the different neighbor types. Current Parents prioritize public school options, while Empty Nesters value neighborhood amenities like the YMCA trail and Dinosaur Park. The most desired neighborhood improvements include a dog park, increased sidewalks and walkability, biking trails, enhanced tree coverage, and a neighborhood pool.
The West Towson Neighbor Association received high ratings for its efforts in fostering neighborhood camaraderie, organizing events, zoning advocacy, and working to increase property values. While 64% of respondents found the association dues to provide good or great value for their money, the convenience of payment options was a significant barrier.
Notably, 30% of respondents expressed an interest in volunteering to organize events, and 27 people indicated their willingness to contribute as Board Members.
