UP 494: Health and Place: A Planning Workshop – Spring 2016
IDENTIFYING NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS
Knowing where to start
This report discusses factors that influence health and health outcomes in the East Bluff neighborhood of Peoria, Illinois. Factors that can influence health include socioeconomic status, the quality of the built environment, access to transportation, housing quality, social capital, and the prevalence of crime. Health outcomes include data pertaining to resident health trends such as levels of obesity and diabetes. The East Bluff neighborhood is bordered by Glen Oak Avenue and McClure Avenue to the south and north, and by Prospect Road and Knoxville Avenue to the east and west. Data to represent this area comes from census tracts 16 and 25 and zip code 61603, all of which encompass the East Bluff neighborhood.
FINAL REPORT OVERVIEW
Section one presents demographic and socioeconomic data as components of social determinants of health. This section compares data from census tracts 16 and 25 with data for the city of Peoria and the state of Illinois. The East Bluff is found to have a higher likelihood of negative health outcomes due to demographic and socioeconomic factors.
Section two focuses on factors of the built environment that can influence health, such as traffic levels and access to green space. High walkability and access to public transportation in the neighborhood create an environment conducive to physical activity. However, lack of access to outdoor spaces within walking distance and lack of bicycle infrastructure limits the types physical activity to engage in. In addition, a high concentration of busy roads in the neighborhood leads to higher local concentrations of air pollution and increases the likelihood of traffic accidents.
Section three compares housing conditions in the East Bluff neighborhood to the city of Peoria and the Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The neighborhood is found to have higher cost burden and lower house value compared to the other geographies. This section also discusses the Community Core Initiative to revitalize housing stock and create neighborhood pride.
Section four presents a list of organizations and programs that can help to build social capital in the neighborhood, including the East Bluff Community Center and the East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services.
Section five profiles the food environment of East Bluff, and highlights the locations of places to obtain healthy and unhealthy food/substances in the neighborhood. A grocery store with healthy and nutritious options is located in the neighborhood, but this section also showcases the high prevalence of unhealthy food found in local convenience stores. This section analyzes access to grocery stores by public transit as well.
Section six highlights crime data in the neighborhood. An increase in property and violent crimes can lead to direct damage of human health. Crime can also deter people from walking and bicycling in the area due to perceptions of the neighborhood as unsafe.
Lastly, section seven presents information about health outcomes in Peoria County, the city of Peoria and the East Bluff zip code (61603.) The data shows that East Bluff residents have high accessibility to doctors and health institutions. However, disparities in health outcomes such as STDs and obesity along racial and geographic lines are still prevalent there.