4. Introduction
Polish Village is a neighborhood in Parma, OH.
It is situated along Ridge road with Pearl Road to the
north and Thornton Drive in the south (Marschall,
2011). Polish Village was officially designated by city
council on May 1, 2011 (Polish Village Parma, 2014).
The neighborhood is approximately .9 square miles and
consists of 32 streets (Google Map Developers, 2014).
Polish Village is a vibrant community. There
are about 3,800 homes and it plays host to four annual
parades and has 111 businesses (Stefaniuk, 2014).
Increasing the walkability of the neighborhood serves
to enrich this community even further. The potential
benefits are increased health, safety, security, and economy.
Walkability is how easy it is to walk in a neighborhood. To be walkable a neighborhood
must be safe, pleasing to look at, and designed for people (Spiess, 2012). Websites such as
walkscore.com grade neighborhoods on their walkability. The walkability of Polish Village is
graded by walkscore.com as somewhat walkable (walkscore.com, 2014). The walk score is a 51
out of 100 making it one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Parma (walkscore.com, 2014).
The purpose of this report is to provide Parma City Council and residents of Polish Village
information on making Polish Village better. It will also look at the feasibility of making Polish
Village more walkable. Improving or adding sidewalks as well as adding shade trees will improve
this neighborhood’s walkability, economy, and community.
Sidewalks
Sidewalks contribute to the safety of walkability. Broken or uneven sidewalks may cause
trips, falls, or sprains. We wanted to quantify the current state of sidewalks in Polish Village and
see what it would take to improve walkability.
Survey
In order to quantify the safety of the sidewalks in Polish Village, a survey of the sidewalks
was conducted between July 12, 2014 and July 15, 2014. This survey also collected data on how
many shade trees are in Polish Village (see Trees section below).
Methodology
Two researchers walked seven streets in Polish Village and assigned the sidewalk of each
home or business a score of 0-5. Each property counted as one sidewalk regardless of length. St.
Charles Borromeo Church on Charles Ave. is the one exception; it is significantly longer than the
other sidewalks.
One researcher used an objective guide to grade the sidewalk while the other researcher
recorded the data. It is important to note that the researchers kept the same roles for each street
to limit the number of variables. An objective guide was utilized so that the results would be
Figure 1: Map of Polish Village
Source: Google Map Developers
5. 2 Increasing Walkability in Parma's Polish Village
repeatable. It is noted that there was a small degree of subjectivity in this survey. The sidewalks
were graded as follows:
0- Non-existent. Researcher had to walk in the street.
1- Worst possible shape. The only way to correct the sidewalk is a complete tear out and
re-pour.
2- Needs work. At least one of the slabs needs replaced. If none are broken, excavation of
roots is needed to level slabs.
3- OK. Trip hazards are greater than ½”; slabs are tilting quite a bit.
4- Near perfect. Trip hazards are less than ½”; some tilting of slabs is acceptable.
5- Perfect. No trip hazards; most likely new.
Seven streets were surveyed to give a sample size of 21.9% of Polish Village by number of
streets. The streets surveyed were chosen by simple random sampling (Grady Klein and Alan
Dabney, 2013) to reflect the different geographical areas of Polish Village. By area the sample
size covers 0.187 square miles, or 20.4% of Polish Village. (Sample size by area was determined
by using Google Map Developers tools.) The seven streets surveyed were:
Bertha Ave.
Charles Ave.
Dresden Ave.
Frankfort Ave.
Gilbert Ave.
Kenneth Ave.
Orchard Ave.
Data
Grade 5 4 3 2 1 0 Totals
Bertha 24 45 21 3 0 0 93
Charles 50 51 17 4 0 0 122
Dresden 26 31 21 0 0 0 78
Frankfort 5 7 3 0 0 10 25
Gilbert 58 62 20 7 0 0 147
Kenneth 61 53 20 2 0 0 136
Orchard 83 47 10 3 0 0 143
Totals 307 296 112 19 0 10 744
6. 3Increasing Walkability in Parma's Polish Village
Results
Looking at the grade distribution (Chart 1) it is clear that the majority of sidewalks in
Polish Village are in good shape. However 18% of the sidewalks still fall in the grades of 2 or 3.
Surprisingly there were zero sidewalks in the survey that were in complete disrepair. The biggest
anomaly in the survey was Frankfort; this was the only street that ran north-south in the survey.
Statistically 15% of the streets in Polish Village run north-south; Frankfort is 14% of the sample
population. Though it is only one street, it does accurately mirror the population (Grady Klein
and Alan Dabney, 2013).
Frankfort is typical of other north-south streets in that any sidewalks present are put in
by the property owner. The sidewalks put in are paths for the homeowner to get to their detached
garage safely. In general these sidewalks are half as wide, and they are closer to the homes than
the street. Adding a sidewalk to these north-south streets where none exists will improve
walkability. This will give residents living along these streets more privacy.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
5
4
3
2
1
0
Chart 1: Grade Distribution
Bertha Charles Dresden Frankfort
Gilbert Kenneth Orchard Overall
7. 4 Increasing Walkability in Parma's Polish Village
Chart 2 illustrates the condition of the sidewalks by percentage. Overall 81% of the
sidewalks in Polish Village do not need any work. This leaves 19% of the sidewalks needing some
improvement.
Improvement
As can be seen by the results of the sidewalk survey, there is room for improvement. Two
methods can be utilized for sidewalk remediation. The solutions for improvement are mudjacking
and replacement.
Mudjacking
Mudjacking is the process of lifting/ leveling slabs with a slurry. Small holes, usually ½“,
are drilled into the slabs. These holes are them filled with slurry to lift the slab; the hole is then
filled with cement (Eckert, 2014). This method of improvement is ideal for sidewalks graded as
26%
41%
33%
20%
39%
45%
58%
41%
48%
42%
40%
28%
42%
39%
33%
40%
23%
14%
27%
12%
14%
15%
7%
15%
3% 3%
0%
0%
5%
1% 2%
3%
0% 0% 0%
0%
0% 0% 0%
0%
0% 0% 0%
40%
0% 0% 0% 1%
BERTHA CHARLES DRESDEN FRANKFORT GILBERT KENNETH ORCHARD OVERALL
Chart 2: Percentage of Sidewalks by Grade
5 4 3 2 1 0
8. 5Increasing Walkability in Parma's Polish Village
a 3 or 4 and may be feasible for some sidewalks graded as a 2. The authors of this report have
had this done and can attest to its effectiveness.
Replacement
Replacement is the process of removing slabs, excavating/ leveling the ground, and
pouring new concrete. In general it will cost more to replace than mudjacking as there is much
more work involved and a higher overhead cost. This method of improvement is necessary for
sidewalks graded 0-2, but may be utilized for sidewalks graded as a 3 or 4.
Costs
For 55% of the homeowners mudjacking will be the best method for making their
sidewalks better. It will cost about $5 to $8 a square foot to level the sidewalk; up to $15 a square
foot if the sidewalk is completely out of level (Eckert, 2014). Replacing a sidewalk costs $6 to $10
a square foot plus the cost of removing the old sidewalk (Concrete Network, 2014). Assuming the
average sidewalk slab is 57”X54” then each slab is 21 square feet. The average sidewalk is 7
slabs, then the average sidewalk is 147 square feet. Using the figures above it would cost
homeowners $700-$2200 to fix their sidewalk.
Leveraging the size of the project, the city of Parma could expect to pay $4.93 per square
foot. This includes labor, removal, equipment, overhead, and profit (RSMeans, 2012). The cost
would be as little as $100 per slab, up to $750 for a full sidewalk. This would be the most
economical improvement to Polish Village sidewalks per unit; however, the cost could run up to
$1.5million. This cost would be $400 per home in Polish Village. All the residents would share
this cost. The actual cost would most likely be much less than $1.5million and would need a full
survey of the entire neighborhood.
Trees
Trees contribute to the aesthetics of the neighborhood, but they also play a small role in
the safety of the neighborhood. Trees offer protection from sunburn and offer cooling relief on a
hot day. Trees not only add more oxygen to the air, but improve the quality of life in urban
environments (David J. Nowak, 2007).
Survey
In order to see how many sidewalks offered shade, a survey of how many trees providing
shade was conducted concurrently with the sidewalk survey. See the sidewalks section on pages
1-3 for more information.
Methodology
Two researchers walked 7 of Polish Village's 32 streets to determine how protected the
sidewalks are from the sun. Only trees that provided shade to the sidewalk were counted. The
researchers excluded trees that were not near the sidewalk or did not provide shade. Except for
St. Charles Borromeo (see sidewalks section), sidewalks with multiple shade trees were still
counted only as one. Trees with large crowns (covering multiple sidewalks), were also counted as
one.
9. 6 Increasing Walkability in Parma's Polish Village
Data
Shade Trees Percent Shaded
Bertha 18 19
Charles 43 35
Dresden 17 22
Frankfort 12 48
Gilbert 46 31
Kenneth 32 24
Orchard 33 23
Overall 201 27
Results
On average only 27% of the sidewalks are shaded. Though there are no hard and fast
rules for how many sidewalks should be shaded, the number should be as high as possible. The
walks for the surveyed streets would have benefitted from more shade. The streets would have
also looked much more pleasing to the eye.
Improvement
The Arbor Day Foundation sells trees for as little as $5 (Arbor Day Foundation, 2014).
These trees are small and easy to destroy. Purchasing a mature tree from a nursery will cost
$100 or more, but will be hardier. As an added benefit, a tree in a well-maintained yard will
increase resale value of the home (Finholm, 2014).
In the city of Parma all that is needed to plant a tree is a permit application. The permit
is free, but the city will assess a fine if a permit is not pulled before planting (City of Parma, Ohio,
2014). It is also recommended to call 811 before planting to avoid hitting buried cables, pipes,
etc.
19%
35%
22%
48%
31%
24%
23%
27%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
BERTHA
CHARLES
DRESDEN
FRANKFORT
GILBERT
KENNETH
ORCHARD
TOTALS
Chart 3: Shade Percentage
10. 7Increasing Walkability in Parma's Polish Village
Research was done to identify some specific trees that would be ideal to plant for shading
sidewalks in Polish Village. A variety of trees will prevent disease from taking all the trees at
once as well as making the street more pleasing to the eye. An ideal height for these trees would
be about 40’ to 60’ high. This gives enough height to shade the sidewalks and buildings as well
as not conceal houses from the street. This height is also not too tall, if the tree were to fall it
should not cause considerable damage to the typical 1.5 story home. Anything taller than 60'
could interfere with power and communication lines. Trees must grow well in the clay soil that
is typical of Northeast Ohio. They must also be able to grow in Hardiness Zone 6 (Arbor Day
Foundation, 2014).
To make a better recommendation, some trees were discarded. One example is the
Weeping Willow Salix babylonica. Though a beautiful tree, its roots aggressively seek water and
damage drain pipes (Bruce Kershner, 2008). The Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica was
discounted due to the Emerald Ash Borer infestation in Ohio (Ohio Department of Agriculture,
2014). There is a multitude of possible trees, but the following four are the best options.
Lacebark Elm Ulmus parvifolia
This tree does well in full sun and various soils. It grows 40’ to 50’ high with a 40’
spread. It has dark green leaves that change to yellow and reddish purple in the fall (Arbor Day
Foundation, 2014). In the spring it has many small reddish flowers. This ornamental tree is
resistant to Dutch Elm Disease (Bruce Kershner, 2008)
Northern Catalpa Catalpa speciosa
This flowering tree does well in full sun and various soils. It grows 40’ to 60’ high with a
20’ to 40’ spread. It has large heart shaped green leaves. The Northern Catalpa has large white
trumpet-shaped flowers in the late spring (Arbor Day Foundation, 2014). Though not native to
Ohio, the Northern Catalpa is widely planted and will do well in Ohio (Bruce Kershner, 2008).
Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides
The Quaking Aspen is fast growing and native to Ohio. It grows 40’ to 50’ high with a 25’
spread. Its leaves change to yellow in the fall to accentuate its cream-colored bark (Arbor Day
Foundation, 2014). In the wild the Quaking Aspen clones itself to create large stands of trees; it
is often considered the world’s most massive organism (Bruce Kershner, 2008).
“Red Sunset” Maple Acer rubrum
Another Ohio native, the “Red Sunset” Maple is fast growing and does well in Ohio soils.
It grows 45’ to 50’ high and has a 35’ to 40’ spread. Its green leaves turn to a vibrant red in
autumn. "Red Sunset's" flowers, leaf stems, twigs, and summer fruits are all reddish colored
(Arbor Day Foundation, 2014).
Other Benefits
Environmental
More trees will have a greater impact on reducing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide
(David J. Nowak, 2007). Increases in carbon dioxide is linked with climate change. Trees also
11. 8 Increasing Walkability in Parma's Polish Village
help filter water as it enters the water table creating safer drinking water. Trees can become
home to songbirds and squirrels that are pleasant to watch. Trees act as wind barriers if enough
of them are planted together (Kuhns, 2014)
Health
More trees in an area promote physical activity (Mary Anne T. Dallat, 2013). Increases
in physical activity reduce health problems and creates gains in life expectancy. Altogether this
also leads to decreased absenteeism, increased productivity, and a better quality of life (Mary
Anne T. Dallat, 2013)
Economical
As health increases, economic productivity also increases (Mary Anne T. Dallat, 2013).
An increase in economic productivity would be realized in increased tax revenue; income tax
revenue will increase with a healthier populace. Sales tax revenue will increase with more
persons walking the neighborhood supporting local businesses.
Trees also provide economic benefit to the homeowner. Solar heat can increase cooling
costs during the summer; planting a tree can cool the air around it by as much as 9°F and the air
directly under it by 25°F (US Dept. of Energy, 2012). Shade trees act as natural air conditioning
units. Trees not blocking sunlight to solar panels are a cost saver. Towering trees can also
increase the value of a home 7% to 19% (Finholm, 2014).
Public Safety
Trees in the public right of way (on the tree lawn or close to the street) lower crime rates
in neighborhoods (Prestemon, 2012). This is a great side-effect to having trees. The general
perception is trees provide places to conceal criminal activity. The studies on this have shown
the opposite is quite true. Large trees provide less view obstruction as their crowns are higher.
Trees that provide shade to a sidewalk will be farther from a home and be less obstructing for the
resident (Prestemon, 2012).
Pruned trees increase safety. Low hanging branches will hit people in the head as they walk
under them. Low branches also force pedestrians to walk on the lawn or street. A well-
maintained tree is more likely to signal a well-maintained neighborhood. The “broken window
theory” suggests criminals prefer poorly maintained neighborhoods. Better looking
neighborhoods suggest a greater authoritative presence and a greater chance of being caught
(Prestemon, 2012).
Conclusion
Polish Village in Parma is already a great place to live; yet it can be greatly improved.
Increased walkability will realize better health, economic stability, and a greater sense of
community. Repairing and adding a few sidewalks in Polish Village will make the neighborhood
more walkable. Adding more trees will give the people in and around Polish Village a desire to
walk the community. More people walking the streets of Polish Village will increase the safety
of the neighborhood. Increased safety will give the citizens a greater sense of belonging as well
as ownership of the community.
12. 9Increasing Walkability in Parma's Polish Village
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