Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 47 • Volunteer leadership at the playground discovered children who were truly “home alone” due to parents who were absent or unavailable for a variety of reasons This led to volunteers providing social support through personal outreach (Yes, neighborhood parks are critical in urban areas for many reasons!) • The community conducts major events in the park annually • This community trusts the county to be responsive to concerns that affect the overall quality of life in their neighborhood • The lines of communication remain open to the department and to the district commissioner The former name of this stormwater drainage ditch was Meadowdale, but it was renamed for Commissioner Lou Walker, who made sure funding was appropriated for the redevelopment || NEW PLAYGROUND REPLACES STORMWATER DRAINAGE DITCH AT LOU WALKER PARK IN DEKALB, GA Windsor Village Park Neighborhood and Revitalization Program The Windsor Village neighborhood in Indianapolis, Indiana, is located in what has been historically called the Consolidated Eastside Neighborhood—home to move than 2,700 people There are more than 1,300 houses in this small geographic area; 49% are occupied by renters, and 21% are vacant or unoccupied The renovation of the 53-year-old Windsor Village Park changed the culture for area residents Changing Demographics This particular neighborhood grew during the early years of the 1940s, as houses were built for people employed in war-related industries The neighborhood continued to develop through the 1950s with duplexes and ranch-style houses In 1956 the neighborhood acquired another major employer, Community Hospital, leading to more residential and commercial development The 1960s then saw an infrastructure change with long-term ramifications, when the area was physically divided due to the construction of Interstate I-70 This highway created a permanent northern boundary for what is now known as Windsor Village The time period between the 1960s and the ‘80s witnessed the graying of the neighborhood: there was an 85% increase in the number of adults over the age of 60 living in the neighborhood and a 250% increase in the number of adults over age 65
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