Building a Stronger Dodge Flower: 2025 Survey Results & Next Steps
Over the past two years, the Dodge Flower Neighborhood Association (DFNA) has grown in activity and ambition. However, we remain a grassroots group with limited resources, relying on a small core of about 10 dedicated volunteers. To ensure our efforts match the community's needs, we conducted a neighborhood-wide survey in late 2025 to identify your top priorities.
In January, we shared these results with the community and held a brainstorming session, which the Leadership Council further refined during our February meeting. Here is what we learned and how we plan to move forward.
Community Insights: Safety & Quality of Life
While most residents feel safe during the day, nighttime brings significant concerns regarding theft, drug-related activity, and gun violence. Beyond crime, the survey highlighted several "quality of life" challenges:
Given our small team, we must be strategic. While issues like homelessness and mental health are high priorities, they are complex city-wide challenges. The DFNA will support broader city initiatives in these areas, but our direct action will focus on initiatives where we can make a tangible local impact.
2026 Priority Action Areas
We will continue to refine this list at next month’s Leadership Council meeting. Current focus areas include:
1. Strengthening Neighborhood Connections
Want to Dive Deeper?
This summary is just the beginning. For a detailed breakdown of the data and community feedback, please review:
Minutes of the DFNA January 24th Meeting
Full Report on the 2025 Dodge Flower Neighborhood Safety Survey
Over the past two years, the Dodge Flower Neighborhood Association (DFNA) has grown in activity and ambition. However, we remain a grassroots group with limited resources, relying on a small core of about 10 dedicated volunteers. To ensure our efforts match the community's needs, we conducted a neighborhood-wide survey in late 2025 to identify your top priorities.
In January, we shared these results with the community and held a brainstorming session, which the Leadership Council further refined during our February meeting. Here is what we learned and how we plan to move forward.
Community Insights: Safety & Quality of Life
While most residents feel safe during the day, nighttime brings significant concerns regarding theft, drug-related activity, and gun violence. Beyond crime, the survey highlighted several "quality of life" challenges:
- Social Isolation: A desire for stronger connections between neighbors.
- Infrastructure: Dangerous traffic, lack of shade, and a need for more sidewalks.
- Environment: General signs of neglect, including illegal dumping and litter.
- Complex Social Issues: High concern regarding homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse.
- Enforcement: A need for more consistent policing regarding speeding and public drug use.
Given our small team, we must be strategic. While issues like homelessness and mental health are high priorities, they are complex city-wide challenges. The DFNA will support broader city initiatives in these areas, but our direct action will focus on initiatives where we can make a tangible local impact.
2026 Priority Action Areas
We will continue to refine this list at next month’s Leadership Council meeting. Current focus areas include:
1. Strengthening Neighborhood Connections
- Organizing community events to turn neighbors into friends.
- Creating collaborative groups to tackle shared local concerns.
- Cleanliness: A high-focus campaign to reduce illegal dumping and dog waste.
- Greening: Increasing street-level shade and advocating for better bike/pedestrian infrastructure.
- Arts: Completing the mosaic artwork on the E. Flower and Richey traffic circle.
- Advocating for better lighting and traffic-calming measures.
- Exploring the use of resident camera footage to identify frequent speeders.
- Education: Connecting residents with existing safety programs and resources.
- Security: Assisting neighbors with the installation of safety lights and webcams.
- Advocacy: Organizing community presence at police meetings to demand stronger enforcement of traffic and drug laws.
- Explore ways to help vulnerable neighbors manage utility and food costs.
- Lobbying for local business development to increase nearby employment.
Want to Dive Deeper?
This summary is just the beginning. For a detailed breakdown of the data and community feedback, please review:
Minutes of the DFNA January 24th Meeting
Full Report on the 2025 Dodge Flower Neighborhood Safety Survey
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