Hello, Bristol residents! We would like to thank you for your participation in our survey that we conducted a few months ago. The purpose of the survey was to determine how strong a "sense of community" exists on your block, as well as other blocks in Lansing. To show our appreciation, we have developed this newsletter specifically for Bristol. Here's how you responded:

• People on this block take care of each others' plants, pets, kids (67%).
• People on this block feel comfortable lending and borrowing things from each other (67%).
• People on this block help each other out when someone has a problem (67%).
• People on this block like each other (67%).
• People on this block watch out for each other (83%).

Sixty-seven percent of you said that Bristol is a safe place to live. In addition, 67% said that Bristol is safe to walk on, even at night and 67% feel that residents can reduce the amount of crime on Bristol. Finally, 83% of you indicated that your block has less criminal activity than other blocks in Lansing. Sixty-seven percent surveyed said that you feel connected to one another. Also, 80% indicated that you belong on the block and 83% of you said that you know each other. These are impressive results!
 
 

One of the items we are interested in is whether recycling contributes to a block's sense of community. Although we have not reached any conclusions as yet, recycling does seem to be important to you and your neighbors. Everyone surveyed on your block said that Bristol residents participate in the curbside recycling program. Congratulations!
 
 

We asked two potentially positive questions to which you could respond in your own words, rather than rating through the use of a scale. The questions were: "What is it that you feel contributes most to your sense of community on your block?," and "What is the best thing about living on this block?" Everyone answered one of these two quesitons positively with virtually all stating that their "neighbors" had a direct influence on sense of community and were the best thing about Bristol. Another theme mentioned was that the area was "peaceful" and "quiet." We also asked, "What is the major problem facing this block?" Some of the responses to this question were possible "drug dealing" and "the city doesn't maintain the street."
 
 

Overall, 67% of you indicated that the sense of community on Bristol is "just about right." In addition, 67% said that there was a clear leader on your block to go to with questions, comments, or concerns. This might explain why 83% of you said that you would not be interested in assuming a leadership role. However, this is not negative in the light of the fact that many of you feel there is already a clear leader. Also, 100% of you said that you would either be somewhat or very interested in working to together to improve your block's conditions. This is an overwhelmingly high amount of people who are willing to get things done. In addition, the fact that so many of you said that you know and like your neighbors, as well as seeing them as contributing to the sense of community on this block leads us to predict that there is indeed a positive overall sense of community on Bristol. One of the other interesting findings was your response to "How much do you like living on this block?" 100% of you indicated that you did not mind living there or that you loved it (33% of you said you loved it). No one indicated any sort of dislike toward living on Bristol.

We would like to thank you once again for taking the time to participate in this survey and allowing us to visit your block. We hope that this newsletter has been of interest to you. If you have any questions about this study, please feel free to contact Dr. John Schweitzer at 353-9144, Urban Affairs Programs, Michigan State University.