urban-universities-and-community-revitalization-efforts-opportunities-for-student-engagement-and-education

Paper ID #30407 Urban Universities and Community Revitalization Efforts: Opportunities for Student Engagement and Education Dr Fouad H Fouad, University of Alabama at Birmingham Dr Fouad H Fouad, Ph.D., P.E., is Professor and Chairman of the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and the Director of the UAB Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center Dr Fouad is a fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Dr Fouad’s research interest is in the area of infrastructure design, maintenance, and rehabilitation with a focus on sustainable green building design and construction Miss Paula Alvarez Pino Paula Alvarez Pino is the Associate Director of the Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center at University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Paula is in charge of monitoring the progress of research, outreach and training activities in the center, as well as to set short and long-term goals to ensure the continuous progress of the SSCRC Paula collaborates with the City of Birmingham as liaison in several projects related to the built environment and to improving the overall quality of life of the communities Paula plans international research experience programs for undergraduate and graduate students in collaboration with international partners She has helped organize and develop international workshops in the field of sustainability and smart cities Paula has also developed outreach programs that educate the youth about the principles of sustainability Paula received a Bachelors and Master’s of Science in Civil Engineering from UAB, and is a credentialed professional of Envision Sustainable Infrastructure rating system (ENV SP) Paula has a research interest in utility distribution poles and the development of an innovative smart pole for smart cities Prof Andrew J Sullivan, University of Alabama at Birmingham Dr Mona N Fouad, University of Alabama at Birmingham c American Society for Engineering Education, 2020 Urban Universities and Community Revitalization Efforts: Opportunities for Student Engagement and Education Abstract Urban universities are well positioned to become catalysts for neighborhood revitalization and to drive change in surrounding communities due to their proximity to adjacent neighborhoods and their established relationships with industry and organizations that can support community development Urban universities possess human capital, which includes talented students and faculty who have unique capabilities to generate new knowledge and cutting-edge information for the benefit of their communities The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Civil Engineering department (through its Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center, SSCRC) has a long history of collaboration with the City of Birmingham, local industry, and community partners working together towards the common goal of improving the health and quality of life in our communities The Center enables interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty across the university focusing on understanding and transforming the impacts of urbanization at the scientific, economic, and human levels The main focus of the UAB Civil Engineering department and the SSCRC has been on the built environment and its impact on quality of life This paper describes the process of how UAB, through the Civil Engineering department and the SSCRC, has developed and established strong partnerships with the city and local industry for the sake of improving our communities These collaborations create mutually beneficial relationships that provide an opportunity for students to gain experience addressing real-life challenges that impact our community, while the city and its residents benefit from the university’s technical expertise in meeting those challenges Through such efforts, our students develop strong local professional networks and gain practical experiences that enhance their professional opportunities upon graduation The role of these collaborations in conducting research and developing innovative solutions to enhance the quality of life in our communities is explained This paper presents case studies of efforts to revitalize communities in our city through research, training, and community engagement The importance of involving undergraduate and graduate students in all stages of this work, as well as creating career opportunities for them, is emphasized Background Urban universities have an increasingly important role in the growth and development of cities and their communities According to the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, in the past quarter century urban universities have recognized the many challenges facing their cities and have increased their engagement efforts to address pressing community issues [1] In the process of expanding their community engagement, universities are providing opportunities to students to broaden their education, be involved in real life challenges, and have a positive impact in their community Urban universities are often their cities’ largest employers and represent significant economic engines [1] UAB is the largest employer in Birmingham and the second largest employer in the State of Alabama, and prides itself on being in the community and of the community Engaging with the community in meaningful and mutually beneficial collaborations that contribute to the public good is part of our university’s strategic plan Also part of the strategic plan, a new university-wide Grand Challenge initiative was designed to energize the talent on and around our campus to understand and solve complex community problems This research initiative was launched early in 2018 and promotes ambitious multidisciplinary research efforts to solve major urban challenges The Grand Challenge Initiative at UAB Alabama struggles with low rankings in a number of public health metrics, and therefore the program selected by the university for the Grand Challenge is focused on improving the health of our communities The long-term goal of the Grand Challenge program is to lift our state out of the bottom 10 in national health rankings by the year 2030 The midterm objective is to improve the quality of life in our local communities by focusing on changes that support active living, good nutrition, and wellness through enhancements to policies, systems, and the built environment Based on its established partnerships with the city and its communities, its faculty expertise, and its history of interdisciplinary collaboration, the UAB Civil Engineering department’s Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center was selected to lead the Grand Challenge Built Environment Team This team is focused on revitalization efforts that will transform the built environments in our city’s neighborhoods to ones that will promote healthy lifestyles and behaviors Throughout this effort, the Built Environment Team has looked for ways to incorporate meaningful student involvement The Built Environment Team The built environment refers to human-made spaces and includes all of the physical parts of where we live and work According to the Centers for Disease Control, the built environment comprises homes, buildings, sidewalks, open spaces, parks etc [2] There is strong evidence that the built environment has an impact on health, especially in relation to chronic diseases [3] According to Kent and Thompson, physical inactivity, social isolation, and obesity are three of the major risk factors for many of the chronic diseases facing our society and all can be, to some degree, influenced by the built environment [4] A person’s level of physical activity is directly influenced by the built environment in which he or she lives and works For example, a lack of accessible sidewalks, bicycle lanes, trails, and walking paths contribute to sedentary habits [2] These habits lead to poor health outcomes such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer The burden of these chronic diseases can be reduced through the design of built environments that promote and support physical activity, connect communities, and provide access to healthy foods Enhancing the built environment of a community is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive approach and collaboration from multiple partners The Built Environment Team is a diverse group that includes faculty and students, industry leaders, local civic organizations, and community and government representatives The Team has developed short-term goals to be achieved by 2023 and midterm goals to be achieved by 2025 For the short-term goals, five local communities were selected to launch and test community revitalization efforts The selected communities are in close proximity to UAB’s campus and are central to the city’s strategic plan In the summer of 2019, the team began to develop a plan to enhance the built environment of these communities Through our work in these five communities, the Built Environment Team will develop and test a community revitalization methodology that can then be implemented across other communities in the state Student Involvement Student involvement is a key focus of the Built Environment Team In our previous experience engaging students in community projects, we have observed that students, as well as faculty, have a great interest in being involved in solving challenges close to home By involving undergraduate and graduate students in this community-based project, we aim to: • • • Prepare students for professional practice by engaging them in some of the nation’s most difficult and enduring challenges; Develop students’ research capacities and skills; Reinforce students’ team work skills and expose them to real-life meetings with the community, industry partners, and government representatives; • Expose students to applied research projects where they get to implement the skills that they have learned in the classroom; • Provide students with networking opportunities with industry stakeholders and community leaders to establish connections that could result in post-graduation opportunities; Create career opportunities for students to remain in the city after graduation and to continue to contribute to the city’s growth; Strengthen the ties between the community and our university; Leverage UAB’s resources to have a positive impact in the local community • • • Through the Civil Engineering department, we selected undergraduate and graduate students from the School of Engineering to be part of the Built Environment Team In order to successfully involve these students and positively influence the community, well-designed research projects, where the research needs of the community are aligned with the students’ knowledge and faculty expertise, are key This requires close coordination between faculty members leading the research and the community leaders and stakeholders To achieve this coordination and meet our student engagement goals, we hosted several planning meetings with members of the demonstration communities prior to the launch of Built Environment Team efforts During these meetings we prioritized the needs of the communities, identified faculty and staff across campus with related expertise, defined undergraduate and graduate student projects, and developed a plan with well-defined deliverables Built Environment Team Case Studies The Built Environment Team holds biweekly meetings where the students have an opportunity to report on their research and obtain input and guidance from the team members In addition to these biweekly meetings, faculty and staff from the Civil Engineering Department and SSCRC meet regularly with the students to coordinate efforts, track project progress, and ensure the students are progressing in the right direction For each demonstration community, the students are developing plans to enhance the built environment into one that promotes activity and healthy lifestyles As an example, in our first two communities, Bush Hills in west Birmingham and Kingston in east Birmingham, the students performed the following steps: Literature Review: As a first step, the students performed an extensive literature review regarding the built environment, its effect on health, and the many options available to enhance the built environment of a community The students also studied communities across the country that have worked on similar efforts 2 Data Gathering: In order for the students to develop a revitalization plan for their assigned community, students must have a thorough understanding of the current conditions of the community and the residents’ needs As part of this step, the students performed the following:  Review of existing data and development plans The students obtained demographic, socioeconomic and health data and studied nine different revitalization plans that pertain to our city and its communities These plans include the City of Birmingham Comprehensive Plan, Sidewalk Master Plan, BActive Plan, and others  Attended community meetings During the meetings, the students learned about what the citizens of the community need and want Figure and show one of the meetings for the Bush Hills neighborhood Appendix shows the SWOT analysis performed for the same community  Conducted walk audits The students utilized the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscape (MAPS), which is an audit tool that identifies the strengths and weaknesses of a community During the walk audits the students collected information regarding built environment elements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, blight, lighting etc The collected data during the walk audits was used as basis for the proposed improvement  Audited community parks and green spaces By utilizing the Community Park Audit Tool (CPAT) the students obtained information about the conditions of the parks in each community and evaluated their potential to promote physical activity Appendix shows an example of the data collected by one of the students utilizing the CPAT tool  Collected baseline data related to community activity These included pedestrian counts, vehicle counts, collection of speed data, park activity counts, and counts of transit users These data will be updated in several years so that before/after comparisons can be made Figure and 2: Bush Hills neighborhood meetings Community Analysis and Goal Prioritization: Based on the literature review and the data collected, the students, in collaboration with the rest of the members of the Built Environment Team, assembled a list of key community priorities and selected pedestrian corridors hat will serve as the initial foundation of the revitalization efforts Appendix shows a map developed by the Built Environment Team showing the selected pedestrian corridors in the Kingston neighborhood Work Plan: Once the key priorities of the community were selected, the students developed a work plan, divided into two phases, where they included the short- and longterm actions that will need to take place for the selected community This plan evolved out of feedback from the Built Environment Team members and external stakeholders The students, with assistance from faculty and industry partners, also developed a cost estimate for each of the proposed revitalization actions Appendix shows the work plan developed for the Kingston neighborhood and Appendix shows some examples of the maps developed for the work plan that includes sidewalks, crosswalks, bus shelters, green spaces, blight, and signage Present Plan to Community Leaders and Industry Stakeholders: The students developed a presentation to deliver the draft plan to the community representatives and industry stakeholders While faculty and staff of the Civil Engineering Department and Built Environment Team members reviewed and edited the final PowerPoint Presentation, the students were responsible for presenting the draft document to the community representatives and industry stakeholders During these presentations, the students obtained valuable feedback from the community and industry that was included in their final report Figure shows one of the students presenting the draft product to representatives of the Bush Hills neighborhood Figure 3: Student presenting final report to representatives of Bush Hills Final Report: As a final step, the students developed a final report including all the information collected during the project, the work plan, and the recommendations The students’ final reports were disseminated and used by the Built Environment Team for the implementation phase of the community project As we continue our work on this project, we are already seeing that participating in this community-based research initiative adds great value to students’ college education By providing the students with these unique learning experiences, we are preparing them to interact and succeed in an increasingly interconnected world Combining the learning goals of the students with the needs of the community is a mutually beneficial model that enhances the student growth and has a positive impact in the community Students have 1) learned about the role of civil engineers in society and the impacts their designs can have on communities, 2) gained experience in hands-on community-based research projects, and 3) learned about the importance of teamwork and relationships between people One graduate civil engineering student who was part of the Built Environment Team completed her master’s thesis, “The Role of the Built Environment in Transforming Underserved Neighborhoods into Smart and Connected Communities,” based on the work that she performed for the Grand Challenge initiative Of the experience, this student said: Being part of the university Grand Challenge and the Built Environment Team provided a unique experience for me as a student I was given access to important relationships with local organizations, industry leaders, and representatives from the city I was able to quickly connect with residents through community meetings and see a greater value to my research These connections allowed my research to exist and were helpful resources throughout the entire process Working on this research project was an incredible experience, especially as a Birmingham native I was able to learn more about my city, both the problems and the potential, and about the role that civil engineers and urban planners have in improving the quality of life for residents This research gave me hands-on educational experience, applying what I have learned in class to my community Learning about sustainable development through classes and research with the Civil Engineering Department has prepared me for future work as a civil servant in Birmingham or beyond The Civil Engineering Department helped to foster my passion for improving development on a global scale and allowed me to have a small part in development projects for my community I would encourage any student interested in sustainable development, globally and locally, or urban planning to take advantage of the Civil Engineering Department and their interesting work throughout the city Students can assist with research, site visits and analysis, data collection, brainstorming, and much more with the help of the faculty and staff of the department I am confident that the skills I was able to use throughout this research will be very useful in my future and I am excited to take everything that I have learned about development and engineering into my career Formalizing the Approach Due to the success of the program and in order to formalize our efforts and be able to offer similar experiences for future engineering students, we decided to create a 3-credit hour civil engineering elective course (CE 490/590) in the Spring Semester of 2020 titled “Infrastructure Design for Sustainable Urban Communities” There are currently eight undergraduate students learning from and building on the experiences and lessons learned from the work done in the first demonstration communities The student reports developed for the first two demonstration communities are being used in the course as case studies Figure shows a meeting of the CE 490/590 class in the Spring 2020 term Figure 4: CE 490/590 Class, Spring 2020 The course provides the opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in hands-on engineering research in a project related to their community Students perform research on topics related to the sustainable design of the built-environment, particularly as it relates to community health Students are assigned a topic, perform a detailed literature review, and work with mentors from the Civil Engineering Department to develop research objectives, collect data and prepare designs to meet those objectives, and prepare detailed reports By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability to: • • • • • • • • • • Perform a comprehensive literature review Develop research objectives and a research plan Work with mentors to collect data related to their topic Analyze and summarize data Prepare designs for elements of a sustainable built environment Write a professional report/paper summarizing their research Present their findings to faculty and key community leaders and industry representatives Prepare an abstract on their research and submit it to a journal or conference Work within a team to meet project objectives Work in a professional setting and collaborate with the Built Environment Team The students in the Spring 2020 term are working in teams to tackle two separate but related projects The first team is focusing on the design of a prototype home that is affordable for lowincome residents but also incorporates elements of sustainability Sustainable housing in this country has typically been confined to higher cost homes, but low-income residents could benefit significantly from healthier structures and lower utility bills The students are preparing a detailed design for the house as well as cost estimates for construction and long-term maintenance The second team is focusing on community assessment activities in the North Titusville neighborhood of Birmingham, similar to what has been previously done in other demonstration communities selected by the Built Environment Team They are evaluating tools to inventory the built environment and proposing changes to improve community activity and health They will prepare a list of recommended projects and construction cost estimates to address community needs Each student is required to provide regular progress updates to their research mentors and to the Built Environment Team Updates may be brief but must include a discussion of work accomplished during the reporting period, work planned for the next reporting period, and identification of any issues that need clarification or resolution The course culminates with the students presenting their final report to the Built Environment Team, key community leaders, industry stakeholders, as well as to the School of Engineering faculty and staff Future course offerings will tackle similar community challenges Conclusion Urban universities are embedded in their communities and can be key drivers to enhance the overall quality of life in their cities Collaborative, community-based projects to improve the built environment can serve as a laboratory for student engagement, providing valuable experience in a practical, real-world setting The UAB Civil Engineering department has made a particular effort to involve undergraduate and graduate engineering students in community-based initiatives with the goal of enhancing engineering education while improving the communities surrounding the university Such efforts need not be ad hoc Because of the successful involvement of engineering students in community-based initiatives, the UAB Civil Engineering department has developed a 3-credit hour elective course where students can be part of this unique learning experience Such courses provide an opportunity to make such learning experiences more formalized, providing a structure and regularity that can enhance the partnerships and facilitate the longer-term planning needed to make such projects successful As this paper shows, there is a substantial opportunity for growth and improvement in engineering education by exposing students to real life challenges and by involving them in interdisciplinary teams formed by academia, industry, and government representatives References [1] D Friedman, D Perry and C Menendez, “The Foundational Role of Universities as Anchor Institutions in Urban Development” A Report of National Data and Survey Findings, Coalition of Urban Serving Institutions, Washington D.C., 2013 [2] “Built Environment and Health Initiative”, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 [3] W Perdue, L Stone, L Gostin, “The Built Environment and Its Relationship to the Public’s Health: The Legal Framework” American Public Health Association, September 2003 [4] J Kent and S Thompson, “Health and the Built Environment: Exploring Foundations for a New Interdisciplinary Profession”, Journal of Environmental and Public Health, Volume 2012 APPENDIX A – SWOT Analysis for Bush Hills Neighborhood Meeting Strengths Neighborhood Association/Watch-Community Involvement Access to major roadways/interstate Bush Hills STEAM Academy-(Middle School) Quality of homes & curb appeal Close to downtown Low Crime Landscaping and trees Potential business opportunities & investment potential Proximity to the Crossplex Landscaping and trees Close proximity to medical facility Views & elevation Bush Blvd Street lighting has improved Neighborly Churches/Faith based community Proximity to Finley Ave Farmer's Market Strong presence of Greek organizations Neighborhood reputation Longtime residents Proximity of public transportation People who care about the neighborhood Low noise issues Promote homeownership Good relationship with law enforcement and citizens Community garden Opportunities Grocery Store Community/Recreation Center Green Space/Nice Park-playset, basketball court New restaurant space/Coffee Shop/Deli (Chick Fil A) Pike Road development Keep in place zoning for just single family housing Centralized Community Day Develop the abandoned apartment building Develop 3rd Ave Dog park Vacant Wilson School Weaknesses Overgrown lawns Pot holes & utility companies not repairing work correctly Abandoned vehicles Vacant Lots and Houses (burned or boarded houses) Blight-Parking on lawns, trash & trash pickup, upkeep alleyways Maintenance of Sidewalks Stray animals Overall road conditions Better keep up of personal property Lack of grocery store Food Desert No enforcement of trash/debris dumping Benches for bus transportation School Landscaping Maintained Vandalism Gun fire Dumping garbage Lack of neighborhood enhancement projects Lack of disaster planning Lights in Alleys Need for senior citizen facility Trash & few public trash receptacles Lack of police patrol Sketchy foot traffic No local affordable stores Lack of family dining Bush Blvd Trees hide street lighting Irrigation Bush Blvd Lack of food delivery service Threats Animal Control Lack of Grocery store Crime More police involvement-patrolling neighborhoods more often Gunfire 3rd Ave businesses-event centers that operate as underground/unlicensed bars Loud music-cars Too many Vacant Houses/Not enough Neighbors Cars parked in street Apathy of some neighbors Rising property value Uneven sidewalks City owned property near BSC Vita Course Retail development Installation of neighborhood welcome sign (west) Add sidewalks where none exist-Bush Blvd to 3rd Ave W Develop disaster plan-emergency operation Develop neighborhood health awareness plan New neighborhood gateway signage at key entrances Small police hub Biking Lanes More senior activities More homeownership After School programs Neighborhood activities More trash cans throughout the neighborhood Housing restoration Liquor stores Drugs Unwanted commercial development No storm shelters Lack of neighborhood involvement Lack of business owner involvement Lack of knowledge of impact of opportunity zones Lack of City involvement Lack of coordination of different plans for neighborhood Lack of City involvement Vandalism Stacks of trash Parking on 5th/18th/12th/Behind BSC More trash cans at bus stops to prevent trash from being all over the street Parking in yard People sitting in cars for lengthy times-not neighbors Speeders Stop sign runners Cut shrubs at Graymont/15th St W Not safe to exercise in streets due to criminal violence APPENDIX B – CPAT Park Audit (Bush Hills) Park Name Observer Park Address Date Can the park be accessed for use Are there signs and what they say Park in Bush Hills - How many points of entry Is there a public transit stop What types of parking are available Park boundary is open No handicapped spot Are there sidewalks on any bordering roads Yes Useable Is there an external trail connected to the park Yes No Are there bike routes on any road bordering the park None Are there nearby traffic signals What are the main land uses around the park Yes, stop sign Residential, institutional List any safety or appearance concerns in the surrounding area Heavy traffic, vacant or unfavorable buildings, poorly maintained properties Playground (number of areas) Useable Good condition Distinct areas for different age groups Yes Yes No Colorful equipment Shade cover for some of the area Benches in the surrounding area Fence around the area Separation or distance from the road No No Yes No No Are there public restrooms Are there drinking fountains Are there benches to sit on Useable Good condition Are there picnic tables No No Yes (6) Yes Yes Yes (2) 11/4/2019 Yes Yes, park name Useable Good condition Sheltered Are there trash cans Overflowing Near activity areas Recycling containers Is there food/vending machine How much of the park is shaded Are there rules posted about animals Yes Yes Yes Yes (number) Yes Yes No No Less than 25% No Are there lights in the park Is the park monitored Are there emergency devices How visible is the surrounding neighborhood No No No Fully Are there any roads through the park No What are the aesthetic features of the park Landscaping (flowerbeds), trees, benches, sheltered picnic area Are there storm drain covers Good condition Do you see any blighted structures from the park Yes Yes Yes Are there any abandoned cars Yes APPENDIX – Priority Pedestrian Corridors (Kingston Neighborhood) APPENDIX D – Kingston Neighborhood Work Plan KINGSTON – WORK PLAN PHASE ITEM ACTIONS/ACTIVITIES COST ESTIMATE DATA COLLECTION a Drone Survey (collect additional data including street lighting) Automated drone survey of entire neighborhood TBD b Conduct baseline pedestrian counts at key locations/corridors Video counters provided by RPCGB Data summarized by UAB students $500 c Walk Audits Performed by UAB faculty and students $0 d Comprehensive Plan, Framework Plans, Shape Bham etc Provided by City and RPCGB $0 e CANVAS Software - Collect 60 indicators regarding the built environment Students of the School of Public Health collect built environment data TBD Analysis performed by UAB facilities and UAB SSCRC $0 IDENTIFY KEY CORRIDORS a Focus on corridors that connect and strengthen the community and add safety to routes for school SIDEWALKS COST DESCRIPTION Install new sidewalks and repair existing sidewalks within priority pedestrian corridors a Assess sidewalk condition and select location for renovation and new construction All labor and analysis provided by UAB SSCRC and students $0 b Build new sidewalks $165,000 c Upgrade and repair existing sidewalk Clear & grub, grade, new base, install new ft sidewalks Remove existing sidewalk, re-grade, new base, install new ft sidewalks $310,000 CROSSWALKS a Assess crosswalk conditions (including street lighting and pain striping) - Walk Audit All labor and analysis provided by SSCRC and students $0 b Refurbish and implement new high visibility crosswalks Provide new crosswalks and crossing signs at key intersections within the priority pedestrian corridors $56,000 e Clear overgrown / excess vegetation along railroad tracks and drainage areas that flank sidewalks to enhance visibility Clearing and grubbing (1/2 acre) $2,000 f Add signage to railroad crossing Extend crosswalk stripping (change in material/colors) Install 36x36 signs (2 ea), textured/colored high visibility sidewalk $6,200 Eliminate blight along the Pedestrian Corridors BLIGHT a Tour blighted properties with Blight Free Birmingham to select properties to clean up All labor and analysis provided by UAB and BFB $0 b Clean selected dilapidated and abandoned properties Sites to be determined in cooperation with Blight Free Birmingham Cost per site TBD c Landscape upgrades in vacant and tax delinquent land Sites to be determined in cooperation with Blight Free Birmingham Cost per site TBD Provide new bus shelters along Richard Arrington Blvd to encourage transit use and enhance security $6,000 $8,000 per shelter BUS SHELTERS a Build new bus shelters along Richard Arrington KINGSTON – WORK PLAN PHASE ITEM ACTIONS/ACTIVITIES COST ESTIMATE GREEN SPACES AND PARKS a b c d COST DESCRIPTION Assess Park Conditions Community Park Audit Tool (CPAT) and SOPARC evaluation Stockham park improvements (add security, connectivity) All labor and analysis provided by SSCRC and students $0 Add cameras (2), lighting fixtures (6), and sidewalks along Abraham Woods Blvd $60,000 Evaluate and plan connections to Patton Park (Sidewalk,bikelanes, crosswalk etc) Build a community amenity (soccer field) in adjacent vacant site to Dupuy School Install ft sidewalks, crosswalks, and lighting (2 fixtures) along 40th St N $55,000 Remove overgrown brush & establish plan for mowing/ongoing maintenance Provide outdoor lighting and goal posts TBD Meet with Birmingham City Schools to discuss issues related to this task $0 SCHOOL'S PARTNERSHIPS a Partner with Hayes K-8 and Dupuy alternative school and open their recreational facilities to the public b Rehabilitate walking/track basketball court in Hayes K8 and open it up to the public Assess condition of walking track and basketball courts TBD c Trim brush between Hayes School and O’Neal Steel property Build Walking Trail at Dupuy Add safety and visibility TBD Removal of existing track and installation of new pavement $25,000 Repair tennis and basketball court at Dupuy School Removal of existing pavement, fursnish & install new pavement, striping, and hardware $60,000 d e COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER a Build Kingston community recreation center acrossed from the Fire Station Architecture and engineering required for preliminary design Meetings with community to determine uses $20,000 b Enhance the Fire Station faỗade and pedestrian access Propose building programming for longer-term goals Architecture and engineering required for preliminary design Meetings with community to determine uses $15,000 BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS a Mural or other public art Paint and supplies for community activity $1,000 b Add entrance markers/welcome signs at neighborhood entrance $1,500 each per sign, $1,000 each installation $5,000 c Landscape upgrades in vacant and tax delinquent land Planting trees, plants etc Mowing, removal of vegetation, new plants and beds TBD SIGNAGE a Install new "Welcome to One Kingston" sign Provide neighborhood welcome and sense of community $1,200/sign b Install new direction board signs Install guide signs at key locations in the neighborhood $1,500/sign APPENDIX – Kingston Work Plan Maps