HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-19-014 - Wildflowers Neighbourhood Action Plan
REPORT TO:Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: May 13, 2019
SUBMITTED BY: Josh Joseph, Supervisor, Neighbourhood Development Office
519 7412200 X 7082
PREPARED BY: Sarah Anderson, Neighbourhood Liaison, 519 7412200 X 5078
WARD (S) INVOLVED: Ward 5
DATE OF REPORT:April 24, 2019
REPORT NO.: CSD-19-014
SUBJECT:WILDFLOWERS NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION PLAN
___________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
BACKGROUND:
In 2015, a project team of resident volunteers and staff was established to guidethe
development of the City's first-ever Neighbourhood Strategy now known as #lovemyhood.
Recognizing the importance of community engagementand leadership, project team
membership included residents, Neighbourhood Association representatives and several
community partners to guide the development of the #lovemyhood.
o
great things in their neighbourhoods. The Neighbourhood Action Plan puts this vision into
practice by allowing resident led planning for neighbourhood-initiated projects. Neighbourhood
Action Teams that write the Neighbourhood Action Plan (NAP) have a substantial stake in the
plan, and they are motivated to see their plan and projects to successful completion.
Neighbourhood Action Planswould not be possible without the leadership of volunteers, and
Kitchener is fortunate to have so many passionate residents providing their time and expertise.
Residents take the lead in making their neighbourhoods great, and the City supports them along
the way.
In February 2017, #lovemyhood was endorsed by City Council. Lovemyhood included 18
specific actions in three main areas: great places, connected people, and working together.
The Love My Hood vision encourages residents to take the lead in shaping their
neighbourhood, with help from the city. Residents choose the projects that matter most to them
and decide how to shape the future of their neighbourhood. After all, the best neighbourhoods
are made by the people who live in them
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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One of the actions the project team included in lovemyhoodwas related to the creation
of a Neighbourhood Action Plan (NAP) Guide that would help resident groups focus
their vision by building on their assets and mapping out measurable actions to make
their neighbourhood safer, more accessible, connected, engaged, diverse, and
priorities, while laying out a vision and plan for action. But more important than the
document itself, is the community building and engagement that happens as neighbours
work together through their own unique NAP process.
Action #13 of the City's Neighbourhood Strategy reads:
Neighbourhood Action Plans (NAP):
We'll work with you to shape the future of your neighbourhood through
resident-led, City-supported Neighbourhood Action Plans. These plans will
help you develop a clear vision for your neighbourhood, identify specific
actions to achieve that vision, and have widespread support from the
neighbourhood. Starting with a pilot in two to four neighbourhoodsin 2017-
2018, the program will be available city-wide in 2019.
To support the creation of NAPs, the Neighbourhood Strategy project team created a
comprehensive guide and toolkit for residents to use in the future which was based on
extensive research of how similar plans are created in other municipalities.
Thefollowing information has been pulled from the NAP guide to provide some basic
What is a NAP?
A NAP is a written document that identifies the priorities for a stronger neighbourhood
that is more safe, accessible, connected, inclusive, diverse and engaged. Residents
define their neighbourhood boundaries and create their own plans that represent the
many diverse voices of their neighbourhood. The plans are action-oriented, resident-led
and supported by City staff. The plans lay out a clear vision for the future of a
neighbourhood and identify meaningful and measureable goals and objectives with action
itemsthat have widespread neighbourhood support and can reasonably be implemented
within a 5 year timeframe. The plans also identify who will be responsible for each action
item. Action items may be partially, or fully, funded by the City through programs such as
the Neighbourhood Matching Grant and the Placemaking ChallengeGrant. Other funding
bodies and sources may also support the actions.
Who can create a NAP?
Any group of residents. Virtually anyone, in collaboration with their neighbours, can create
aNAP. Residents don't need to belong to an existing group, conform to particular
geographical boundaries or have expertise in this type of planning.
Why create a NAP?
Creating a NAP will help residents connect and work together to shape the future of a
neighbourhood. Residents who contribute to the creation of a plan can benefit by:
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increasing their knowledge of the neighbourhood,
growing the opportunities to connect and get to know their neighbours,
developing a sense of belonging, including a sense of neighbourhood
identity/pride,
increasing opportunities for residents to be involved and engaged,
cultivating the ability to effect positive change by addressing neighbourhood
issues, and,
developing strong leadership within the neighbourhood
How do residents create a NAP?
The creation of a NAP is not a step-by-step process, and it does not require a one- size-
fits-all approach. The process currently being piloted by the City has been designed to be
as flexible as possible, and is determined in part by the interests, expertise and capacity
found in the neighbourhood where the plan is being developed. Throughout the creation
of a NAP, continuous engagement of residents is required to provide input, review, revise,
monitor, and adjust the plan. Throughout each step of the process, residents are
encouraged to:
Reach out to as many members of their neighbourhood as possible.
Involve everyone by making meetings and events accessible and inclusive
Communicate clearly with the broader neighbourhood, using a variety of methods,
to reach diverse neighbourhood members.
Recruit new members for the Neighbourhood Action Team to make the team
representative of the neighbourhood
In 2018,Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association created the firstNAP,
demonstrating the effectiveness of the guide and toolkit. With this second NAP,
Wildflowers residents in Southwest Kitchener have demonstrated that the NAP process
can be used in a newly developed neighbourhood to support initial community building
and help shape neighbourhood identity.
REPORT:
Wildflowersis a new neighbourhoodbounded by Fischer Hallman Road, Huron Road,
Williamsburg Cemetery, and Amand Drive (see Appendix B).Residency began in 2014,
with many people coming to theneighbourhood from the Greater Toronto Area, and
others from Kitchener and the surrounding area.
The Wildflowers Action Group(WAG) from Southwest Kitcheneris the second resident-
led group to create a NAP, and the first to create a NAP as an emerging groupin a
neighbourhood still under development.WAG formed as a direct result of the NAP
process. Wildflowers residents started WAG so that they could focus on community
building and have a forum to address neighbourhood concerns. The group has five core
members, with a variety of other residents and local business owners contributing to
specific projects, events or meetings as able.
The following outlines the processWAGundertook to create their plan:
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1.Hosted three Wildflowers neighbourhood gatherings
interest in community building, with overwhelmingly positive feedback and 200
people attending.
2.
connect neighbours, and promote activitiesand civic involvement. Hosted
meetings which became a forum for social connection, neighbourhood
discussion, and coordination of WAG activities. Organized by a core group of five
WAG organizing members and attended by more than 20 different neighbours
over 15 meetings.
3.Conducted neighbourhood surveys to identify assets within the neighbourhood,
with a specific focus on people and places
Wildflowers People Strengths
Culturallydiverse Engaged children and youth
30peoplevolunteeredto translateevent Children and youth were leaders at the
info into10 languages, includingUrdu, first neighbourhood Earth Day clean-up.
Gujarati,Hindi. Adults said their
neighbourhood cultural diversity is
important.
Willing to take actionCare about connecting
Wildflowers neighbours identified manyfriendly neighboursand
neighbourhoodassetsthey cared so neighbourhood eventsamong the most
much about that they would be willing to important parts of theirneighbourhood.
work with their neighbours to take action,Children and youth
including: children, safety, cleanliness as
and community.things about their neighbourhood that
make them most happy.
Skilled
Neighbours named 46 skills they are
willing to share with neighbours, including
sports, cooking, photography, carpentry,
taxes, slime making, and gaming.
Wildflowers Place Strengths
Hewitt parkJanet Metcalfe School
44 children & youth and 46 adults named More adults chose the new school as
a favouriteor important to them than any other
importantplaceneighbourhood place or characteristic.
Nature & TrailsVirtual neighbourhood
Adults said the neighbourhood trails and The neighbourhood Facebook groups are
the Williamsburg Cemetery trails were important ways for people to connect and
very important to themshare information.
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4.Initiated a Wildflowers Virtual Reality (VR) documentary project. WAG is
collaborating with a 360° filmmaker to produce a short series of immersive
neighbourhood stories that will be viewed on a smartphone, a PC or with the use
of Virtual Reality headsets.The VR project will be used to promote the WAG NAP
vision and engage new volunteers. Council will have the opportunity to experience
a sample of the Wildflowers VR projectat the Community and Infrastructures
Services Committee meeting on May 13, 2019.
5.Informed, consulted and collaborated with their neighbours throughout the
development of the action plan through:
a.Social media
b.Face-to-face conversations
c.Open meetings
d.Adult survey (50 completed)
e.Children and youth survey (48 completed)
f.Door to door eventflyer delivery
g.Winter neighbourhood gathering, Earth Day Clean-Up, Back-to-School
Ice Cream Social
h.Discussed WAG and NAP with Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock,
Janet Metcalfe School Principal, Janet Metcalfe School Council and
other stakeholders
i.Organized Wildflowers traffic calming lawn sign design contest
6.Crafted a vision statement for their neighbourhood that reflects neighbourhood
inclusive and caring
neighbourhood that learns and celebrates together
7.
a three year NAP workplan to support implementation
Refer to Appendix A or full details of the Wildflower Neighbourhood Action Plan.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OFKITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority:Safe & ThrivingNeighbourhoods
Strategy:3.1Give citizens the tools and opportunities to play an active leadership role
in creating great neighbourhoods and fostering astronger sense of communitybelonging.
Strategic Action:#NB1 NeighbourhoodStrategy
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Funding for the creation of Neighbourhood Action Plans, is included the Neighbourhood
Development reserve created by City Council in early 2017.Thisparticularplancost
approximately$3,000tofund WAG NAP activities such as filming for Virtual Reality
project, traffic calming lawn signs, and event refreshments & supplies.
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Should this neighbourhood wish to proceed with actions identified in their Action Plan,
There are opportunities to apply for funding Neighbourhood Matching
Grant and Placemaking ChallengeGrant.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
From September 2017 to February 2018 staff shared information about the
Neighbourhood Action Plan with community members at various informal gatherings and
several exploratory neighbourhood meetings.
CONSULT
Wildflowers community members hosted their first neighbourhood gathering in February
2018 to invite neighbours to join in a NAP group and process. Wildflowers Action Group
(WAG) formed in March 2018 and committed to completing a NAP. Extensive consultation
with the neighbourhood was conducted by WAG through the following activities: Youth-
Led Earth Day Clean-Up; Summer Ice Cream Social; Door to Door Canvassing; Surveys
for Adults and Children; Online Engagement; Traffic Calming Contest.
COLLABORATE
As a new group, WAG worked closely with staff, seeking guidance and support along the
way. One unique collaboration between WAG and staff involved the creation of a Virtual
Reality documentary that features neighbourhood stories.
ENTRUST
Entrust the WAG NAP team to take the lead on NAP activities and decision-making, with
continued City-staff support for navigating processes and access to resources (toolkits,
grants, implementation process).
PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER:
CSD-17-008 NeighbourhoodStrategy and Implementation Plan approved byCity Council
on February 13,2017.
CONCLUSION:
The process of creating a NAP is a positive and fruitful one. Key learnings about the
application of a resident-led NAP in a developing neighbourhoodinclude:
Can act as a catalyst for the formation of a new neighbourhood group
Supports capacity building in an emergent group
Captures the assets of the neighbourhood
Invites neighbours to be proactive in testing a vision for their neighbourhood
Encourages intentional, ongoing community engagement
Flexible process allows neighbourhoods to create an action plan that reflects their
unique characteristics, priorities, and strengths
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Emerging groups benefit from close collaboration with staff for NAP completion so
as not to overstretch new community leaders
These learningswill be applied by City staff to support future NAPs in similar
neighbourhoods.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May,Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
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Wildflowers Neighbourhood Action Plan
Our vision: Wildflowers strives to be a diverse, inclusive and caring
community that learns and celebrates together
Wildflowers Action Group beginnings
It started at the park
In August 2018, Community Centre staff Sarah Anderson and Jennifer Sullivan visited Hewitt Park one
summer evening. They were hoping to get to know the new Wildflowers neighbourhood. The park
was busy and vibrant, with four generations (children, youth, adults and seniors) at the park swinging,
climbing, sitting, socializing, and playing pick-up sports. Sarah and Jen chatted with approximately 20
people and heard from several people who were interested in park improvements such as improved
seating and a cricket pitch. A few people that Sarah and Jen met invited their neighbours to come to a
meeting in the park the following week for the purpose of exploring next steps. 30 people showed up
on a late August Monday evening. There was a great conversation but the community decided, for
various reasons, not to pursue park improvements at that time.
Abi Khalid was one of the 30 people at the Monday evening meeting. He reached out to Sarah after
the meeting because he wanted to work on neighbourhood visioning and community building. Abi
and Sarah worked together to plan an October neighbourhood meeting. The purpose of the meeting
would be to get to know other Wildflowers neighbours and learn more about LoveMyHood resources
including the Neighbourhood Action Plan (NAP).
Initial Wildflowers Meetings
at the first three neighbourhood meetings from October 2017 to January 2018.
with our
We want to
strengths
solve problems
and support
We moved here
diverse neighbourhood,
neighbourhood
because we always
and we want to
projects
wanted to have
celebrate that!
that neighbourhood
feeling
How can we get
plan a
more people
neighbourhood
involved in these
event, soon!
conversations?
We decided to organize a neighbourhood gathering . The gathering would help
us find out if there was enough interest from neighbours to start a neighbourhood group and do a
Wildflowers NAP.
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Wildflowers Action Group NAP highlights
Formed Wildflowers Action Group
In April 2018, we formed as the Wildflowers Action Group
(WAG)! Nine Wildflowers neighbours came out to the
meeting, with four new people. We were excited to get
started with building community together.
Hosted Three Neighbourhood Events
1. Wildflowers Meet & Greet
In February 2018, WAG hosted our first ever resident-led
neighbourhood gathering. 50 people came out including
neighbours, friends from the Huron Community
Association, and Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock. There
was an enthusiastic response to the idea of building
community in our neighbourhood and doing a NAP. We
learned that our neighbourhood cares about connecting.
2. Earth Day Clean-Up
In April 2018, WAG hosted an Earth Day Clean-Up.
Neighbourhood kids helped to plan and host the
event. Our keynote speaker was a 10 year old
whose birthday is on Earth Day. 70 people came
out, including a huge number of children and youth.
We learned that neighbourhood kids and youth
are leaders and contributors.
3. Wildflowers Back-to-School Blast-Off
In August 2018, WAG
Movie night to host a Back-To-School Ice Cream Social.
WAG conducted a survey of kids & youth, and adults, with
almost 100 surveys completed. We learned about our
neighbourhood strengths and priorities.
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Tested Traffic Calming Options and Safe Routes to Schools
From June 2018 to September 2018 Wildflowers experienced speeding and close calls between
pedestrians and local car and truck traffic. WAG began to explore possible traffic calming options. We
learned that traffic calming is a priority for our neighbourhood.
1)Hosted a neighbourhood traffic calming lawn sign design contest
2)Printed 30 Wildflowers lawn signs to be distributed for free in Spring 2019
3)Advocated for a crossing guard at the Seabrook / Fischer Hallman roundabout success!
4)Advocated for speed data collection at Seabrook and Ludolph by City of Kitchener
Transportation Services success!
5)Monitored Seabrook speeds and raised awareness through use of a speed radar sign
6)Met with Janet Metcalfe School Council to explore ways to collaborate on traffic calming
Congratulations to Qian Wang of Amoona Studio on her winning design!
Started Wildflowers Virtual Reality doc project
In January 2019 we began working with 360° filmmaker Tom Vogel to create Virtual Reality glimpses
We plan to use the Virtual Reality project to engage new
volunteers and promote the NAP vision. We learned that our neighbourhood is creative.
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Established Stakeholder Connections
Our community has many homegrown businesses with owners residing in our neighbourhood or
providing employment for Wildflowers residents. The symbiotic relationship between the community
and these businesses is growing. We are grateful for local business sponsorship of WAG events! We
also established stakeholder connections with community resources such as Janet Hale, Principal of
Janet Metcalfe Public School, Fire Station 7 (Firefighters), Waterloo Region Police Services, Kelly
Galloway-Sealock (Ward 5 city Councillor), Michelle Hernandez (President Huron Commmunity
Association), Andre Fuentes (political candidate), and Doon South Community leaders. We learned
that our neighbourhood is connected and supported.
What else we learned
We reached out to Wildflowers neighbours in many ways including events, survey, online discussions
& polls, park signs and flyers, meetings and conversations. Below is a summary of our key findings:
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at least two
event 2
ups using Wildflowers FB
WAG hosts
-
fe School
2021
-
event 1
WAG hosts
Evaluate and adapt Wildflowers program time at Janet Metcal
Year 3 WAG will organize and host neighbourhood events
based neighbourhood meet
-
take lead on organizing their own street gatherings
event 2
WAG hosts
Neighbours
neighbours to create interest
generational learning
-
program possibilities
MultiNeighbours learning from neighbours (Backyard sessions)
2020
-
--
event 1
WAG hosts
WAG tests
WAG supports
Secure and establish Wildflowers program time at Janet Metcalfe School
Year 2 WAG will organize and host at least two neighbourhood events
topics
Improve
party
possible
WAG hosts
Wildflowers
and
Virtual Reality
WAG explores
collaborations:
WCC, WCA, HCA
in Wildflowers program
-
Learn
Earth
Up &
-
s youth
with
2019
-
WAG
ontributions
Hale and
c
elebrate
Day Clean
c
WAG hosts
connects
Principal Janet
School Council
Year 1 Wildflowers Action Group (WAG) will organize and host at least two neighbourhood events. Events will incorporate Events should follow the Inclusion Checklist Plan and
strategize a droptime at Janet Metcalfe School
the Wildflowers Action Group met to review our findings from the NAP process. We created a vision and chose three goals and several objectives:
December 2018
Wildflowers Goals and Objectives for 2019 - 2021 In Goal ConnectLearn
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2021
-
education
led responses to community issues
-
Year 3
organizes
WAG campaign including prevention tips, and core message that safety is a community effort
neighbourhood
2020
WAG connects neighbours with community safety partners like police, firefighters, City staff and neighbouring communities
-
WAG supports implementation of traffic calming solutions and for various actions
WAG encourages and supports
Year 2
of
-
staff to
survey to
coordinates
and to
safety meetings
WAG working group visitproblem areas with Kitchener consult on residentled solutions
ming
WAG organizes define what community safety means to Wildflowersidentify safety priorities
led traffic calming working
-
way of
-
a
as response to porch thefts and
-
ins in winter 2019
-
ve
gi
2018
came
2019
-
Lead residentgroup and campaign Continue momentum ofthat car break
1)2)
WAG hosts working group meeting with key stakeholders to identify main traffic challenges
WAG hosts Wildflowers Traffic CalLawn Signs created during NAP process in
Year 1
Goal Improve
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Inclusion Checklist
WAG created a checklist to help us plan inclusive neighbourhood events and programs:
Recruit WAG volunteer to follow-up Direct events and activities at
with 20 people who volunteered to various ages, stages, and interests
translate WAG event and posters into (not just families with kids) and use
neighbourhood languages the 2018 community demographics
to sculpt our events and activities
Share City, School, and Wellbeing Engage known individuals in
Waterloo Region initiatives in our FB community who are part of a
group regarding annual educational specific group (same sex couples
and campaigns such as bullying living in our hood, families who
awareness and prevention, family have children or adults with
literacy day, end violence against disabilities, etc.) to help in Event
women, etc. Planning process or to provide
ideas for the events.
WAG events should be free to attend Ensure activities/events planned
and if we wish to raise funds, it would consider known group or religious
be optional activity or separate. i.e. faux pas. Ex. If we have food, then
raffle. ensure it is a variety that doesn't
exclude a group or those of a
certain religion from enjoying.
Who is Wildflowers Action Group?
Wildflowers Action Group is open to all who live or work in Wildflowers. Watch for information about
upcoming meetings on the Mattamy Wildflowers Facebook Group and Wildflowers Action Group
Facebook Group. Contact us at wagkitchener@gmail.com
WAG Core Group:
Roy Chen (Chair), Violet Budhu (Communications), Abi Khalid (Treasurer), Kim Koronya (Past-Chair),
Tony Zmigrodzki (Special Projects)
You can join WAG too! Come to WAG meetings to connect with Wildflowers neighbours, to bring
your ideas, or to volunteer. No commitment is necessary
Where is Wildflowers?
Wildflowers is a new neighbourhood in Southwest Kitchener, located west of Fischer Hallman Road,
below Williamsburg Cemetery, and across Huron Road from RBJ Schlegel Park. People began moving
into the Wildflowers neighbourhood in 2014. Many people have moved to the neighbourhood from
the Greater Toronto Area, and others from Kitchener and the surrounding area.
Please see the demographics profile and map on the last two pages of this NAP for more details.
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Special Thanks
Wildflowers Action Group thanks our many volunteers, contributors and sponsors!
Wildflowers Action Group thanks the City of Kitchener for support of the
Wildflowers Neighbourhood Action Plan through LoveMyHood. More
information about Neighbourhood Action Plans available at
www.lovemyhood.ca/en/tools-money/neighbourhood-action-plan.aspx
Special thanks to our 2018 sponsors:
Tim Hortons (Huron/Fischer-Hallman) -Hallman)
Huron Dental and Eyecare Roti Junction
Colton Davidson - Remax Lalita Premsukh (Aaxel Insurance Brokers
Ltd formerly BrokersNet)
Desjardin Insurance (formerly Statefarm Khalid and Afshan Malik
Liz Peacock office)
Amoona Studio Inc. Pooja Devgan Remax
Tom Vogel Vogel Creative
Our deepest gratitude goes to Sarah Anderson for her commitment, guidance, and assistance
throughout the entire process. Sarah has always made herself available to us to answer our
questions and came out to all our events to support us. We could not have achieved what we have
today without her support.
We would also like to thank Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock for attending and supporting our
events as well as for her support on our main communication forum, our Facebook Group page. She
is always quick to answer questions directed to her and guide the community.
Tom Vogel for helping us tell our Wildflowers story through VR
Khayla Phagu for being our first youth group leader at our 2018 Earth Day event.
Kimberley Koronya for being our first WAG group chair and doing an outstanding job.
Roy Chen for opening up his home and family event for our very first Virtual Reality video.
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