Better Block Dallas Grand Avenue Project

Tom Fisch Capstone MSIS in Sustainability, UTA

Grand Avenue Pre-Event Observational Survey, Nov 9-17, 2011

  

Access □ □ Is the entrance visible from a distance? N/A□ □ Is it easy to identify what is going on in the place? NO□ □ Is the primary use or mission of the booths and attractions easily identifiable? N/A□ □ Is there adequate directional signage, maps and location information? NO□ □ Can people easily get there (e.g. they don’t have to dart through traffic)? NO□ □ Do sidewalks, paths, or roads match up with the directions in which people wish to go? YES□ □ Can people use a variety of transportation options (bus, train, car, bicycle) to get to the place? YES□ □ Does the place function for people with special needs (is it ADA-compliant)? NO□ □ Do vehicles dominate pedestrian use of the space or prevent them from getting to it? YES Comfort & Image □ □ Does the place make a good first impression, both from afar and upon entering? NO□ □ Are there more women present than men? NO□ □ Is there a choice of places to sit (for example, either in the sun or shade)? NO□ □ Is there appropriate weather protection (umbrellas, shelters, etc.)? NO□ □ Is the space clean and free of litter? NO□ □ Does the space and surrounding area feel safe? NO□ □ Does the place meet the needs of the people using it? NO Uses & Activities □ □ Is the place used by a range of ages and types of people? NO□ □ Do people tend to use the space alone, or do they cluster in groups? ALONE□ □ Do several types of activities occur, walking, eating, relaxing, reading, socializing, meetings, etc.? NO□ □ Are many or most parts of the space used? NO□ □ Are there obvious choices of things to do – that is, evidence of events and activities that take place NO□ □ Does the place’s design relate to and support events that take place there? NO□ □ Is there a management presence or other evidence that someone is in charge of the place? NO□ □ Do the uses and activities benefit building visitors and employees? NO Sociability □ □ Would you choose to meet your friends in this place? NO□ □ Are people talking with each other? YES□ □ Are they smiling? NO□ □ Do people seem to know each other by face or name? NO□ □ Do they bring visitors to this place? NO□ □ Do strangers make eye contact with each other? NO□ □ Is there a mix of ages and ethnic groups that generally reflects the community at large? NO□ □ Do people tend to pick up litter when they see it? NO□ □ Do building employees volunteer to help program or maintain the place? NO

Grand Avenue Event Observational Survey, Nov 19, 2011

  Access □ □ Is the entrance visible from a distance? YES□ □ Is it easy to identify what is going on in the place? YES□ □ Is the primary use or mission of the booths and attractions easily identifiable? YES□ □ Is there adequate directional signage, maps and location information? YES□ □ Can people easily get there (e.g. they don’t have to dart through traffic)? YES□ □ Do sidewalks, paths, or roads match up with the directions in which people wish to go? YES□ □ Can people use a variety of transportation options (bus, train, car, bicycle) to get to the place? YES□ □ Does the place function for people with special needs (is it ADA-compliant)? YES□ □ Do vehicles dominate pedestrian use of the space or prevent them from getting to it? NO Comfort & Image □ □ Does the place make a good first impression, both from afar and upon entering? YES□ □ Are there more women present than men? YES□ □ Is there a choice of places to sit (for example, either in the sun or shade)? YES□ □ Is there appropriate weather protection (umbrellas, shelters, etc.)? YES□ □ Is the space clean and free of litter? YES□ □ Does the space and surrounding area feel safe? YES□ □ Does the place meet the needs of the people using it? YES Uses & Activities □ □ Is the place used by a range of ages and types of people? YES□ □ Do people tend to use the space alone, or do they cluster in groups? GROUPS□ □ Do several types of activities occur, walking, eating, relaxing, reading, socializing, meetings, etc.? YES□ □ Are many or most parts of the space used? YES□ □ Are there obvious choices of things to do – that is, evidence of events and activities that take place YES □ □ Does the place’s design relate to and support events that take place there? YES□ □ Is there a management presence or other evidence that someone is in charge of the place? YES□ □ Do the uses and activities benefit building visitors and employees? YES Sociability □ □ Would you choose to meet your friends in this place? YES□ □ Are people talking with each other? YES□ □ Are they smiling? YES□ □ Do people seem to know each other by face or name? YES□ □ Do they bring visitors to this place? YES□ □ Do strangers make eye contact with each other? YES□ □ Is there a mix of ages and ethnic groups that generally reflects the community at large? YES□ □ Do people tend to pick up litter when they see it? YES□ □ Do building employees volunteer to help program or maintain the place? YES

The on-site survey of community event participants prioritized the following neighborhood amenities that were important to them in this order:

#1 Retail shops and restaurants to explore#2 Places to rest, sit, people-watch or dine#3 Feeling Safe and Lighting at Night

The Better Block Grand Avenue Team