The document proposes developing West Garfield Park to address significant disadvantages. It describes West Garfield Park as predominantly African American with high poverty and low educational attainment. It identifies needs for economic growth, health services, crime prevention, and education to improve quality of life. Charts show West Garfield Park has higher crime and lower education levels than Chicago and neighboring Chatham. Development aims to increase jobs, healthcare access, safety, and education.

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Taylor Iaculla
Professor Bennett
PPS 250
March 19, 2015
West Garfield Park Development Proposal
Purpose
The intent of this proposal is to attempt to ensure that West Garfield Park is able to
attain funding from the Good Communities Foundation as it has been subject to significant
disinvestment and disadvantages throughout the years. With the support of the Good
Communities Foundation, it is quite possible for West Garfield Park to provide services and
resources that its residents desperately need in order to create a more cohesive and stable
neighborhood.
West Garfield Park Description
Demographics
West Garfield Park is a community area within the City of Chicago that is
predominantly African American making up 95.9% of the neighborhood’s population with
small numbers of other racial or ethnic groups such as Hispanics, Asians, or Caucasians
making up the other 4.1% of the 19,383 total population. (Greater Chicago Food Depository,
2009). Of those, the average age for a male living in the neighborhood is 26.6 years of age,
while the average age of a female is 31.9 years old. Also, 24.5 percent of adults age twenty-
five and over do not have a high school diploma, compared to 14.5 percent of residents in

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Chatham, a middle class, African American neighborhood also in Chicago that is somewhat
similar to West Garfield Park.
Resources
There are many community development corporations (CDC’s) already present to
address issues in the “urban neighborhood scarred by decades of disinvestment and
concentrated poverty” (Williamson, Imbroscio, Alperovitz, 2002) such as the Garfield Park
Community Council and Bethel New Life both of which have made powerful strides in the
community. Similarly, many churches also attempt to reverse the effects of disinvestment
and poverty one of which is the New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church which
provides parenting classes, educational services, affordable housing, and health services to
the community as it has a minimal amount of grocery stores, access to health services, and
struggles with educational attainment. In addition to social services provided by the state,
West Garfield Park has two alcohol treatment centers and two drug treatment centers
along with a location for behavioral health services, a Head Start program, and a transitional
living space for women and children (Paral, 2012).
Also, the CeaseFire program operates within the community with the goal of
reaching at-risk youth to teach them the consequences of violence, drugs, and other
destructive behavior (Cure Violence, 2014). Transportation in the area relies largely on
public transport as there are two train stops in the area accompanied by multiple bus stops
as well. For the most part, as long as one has the money for transportation, they should be
able to get to most places within the community. There are a four parks in the area as well,

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none as large or well-equipped as the neighboring Garfield Park located in East Garfield Park
though. (Chicago Park District, 2014). Nonetheless, there is still the presence of some green
space in the community which is mostly aimed towards children, serving as a helpful
resource for parents throughout the community.
City Programs
One city program that will begin this summer in the community is PlayStreets. The
program is designed to keep kids healthy and promote an active lifestyle. There are events
planned throughout the summer to ensure that children along with their parents interact
through an array of programs in order to maintain their health. The program is supported
by the city’s public health agency and is a major initiative targeting twenty-six
neighborhoods across the city. (Mayor’s Press Office, 2015).
Problems
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Violent Crime Property Crime Quality of Life Crime
Crime per Thousand People
Chatham Chicago West Garfield Park
Graph 1

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As the graph above displays, West Garfield Park has more incidents of crime per
1,000 residents compared to the City of Chicago or Chatham with regards to violent,
property, and quality of life crimes. Much of the crime in the area is connected to drug
related offenses with there being 161 narcotic related incidents between February 8th and
March 10th of 2015 (Chicago Tribune, 2015) showing that there is an increased need for
programs that offer effective drug treatment or having members of the community work
more closely with law enforcement to ensure their neighborhood has a less likely chance of
drug abuse or manufacture. For instance, a successful programthat worked in the past was
when the parks department partnered with Bethel New Life, a local community
development corporation, to buy a property and then evict all those who manufactured or
used drugs. After this, they were able to renovate the local park near the property and it
was once again used as a communal resource. As well as crime, another issue that West
Garfield Park faces is limited access to affordable, nutritious food sources. There are not
very many grocery stores in the community leading to 29.5% food insecurity compared to
20.6% for all of Chicago. Furthermore, the neighborhood struggles with access to proper
healthcare services and has very limited access to affordable or proximal locations where
they can find assistance. “Even though the supply of physicians has risen greatly in the past
thirty years, it remains low in most low-income, central-city neighborhoods” (Drier,
Mollenkopf, Swanstrom, 2013). This certainly applies to this community as it has higher
rates of infectious diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia than Chatham or Chicago and
also has 19.7% of residents uninsured (Paral, 2012). Even more so, there are no
obstetricians or gynecologists nor specialist physicians. In fact, even for a primary care

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physician, there is only .28 per 1,000 residents within the neighborhood along with .22
dentists. (Paral, 2012). These issues can all be traced back to a common reason, which is the
concentration of poverty within the neighborhood. As of 2009, the median income for West
Garfield Park residents was 22,242 dollars which is 24,539 dollars less than the Chicago
average. Moreover, 40.3% of households are below the poverty line compared to 18.7% of
Chicago residents showing the adverse effect that a multitude of circumstances has on their
capability for economic vitality and stability without additional assistance.
Development Needs
Economic Growth
Economic development is one of the primary factors inhibiting local stability within
the area. With 40.3% of households below the poverty rate, it is important that the locality
focuses on increasing per capita income as well as attempting to bring in private businesses
through incentive programs they can offer. With the influx of business growth, people will
therefore have better access to jobs which may be closer to their homes as well. As
business comes in, the tax base will also be able to be expanded and possibly cause more
money to be reinvested back into the community.
Health Services
Access to health is vital to ensuring a better quality of life for both individuals and
communities. With so little healthcare available, it is imperative that the community
develop some type of plan to address this need, whether through public or private health
services. Additionally, it is equally important that people have access to insurance either

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privately or through Medicare or Medicaid. Through educating the public, they can also
learn of government resources available to them to ensure that they have some options
when it comes to health care. As many people within the community also have little access
to nutritious produce, it is important they receive medical attention periodically as
malnutrition can lead to an array of negative health effects such as immune deficiencies,
obesity, or abnormal growth.
Crime Prevention
As crime in this area is much higher than the rate for either Chicago or Chatham, it is
imperative that in developing the area, one remembers the propensity for violence in the
area. In order to ensure a safe social and economic environment, safety must first be
addressed. People within the community must feel safe in order to be active members of
the community and become civically engaged. If people are “afraid to go outside in areas
with high crime [they]... keep their children locked inside” (Drier, Mollenkopf, Swanstrom,
2013) which further perpetuates the lack of social capital within a neighborhood that is vital
for deliberative democracy and coalition building. In order for businesses to want to enter
the community, they must be reassured that their store or business will be safe from
property crime and also feel as though their customers will be highly willing to enter the
neighborhood they are a part of.

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Education
Educational attainment will be vital to the success of West Garfield Park especially in
the future as people who are well educated tend to have more economic opportunities
coupled with health benefits which addresses two issues this neighborhood faces. As shown
above, the graduation rate for West Garfield Park from Orr High School is at 41.90% while
Chatham’s graduation rate for Simon High School is at 79%. In attempting to develop the
skills of the youth in the neighborhood, it is important to bring them to a level where they
will be able to continue their education through either technical schools or a university. As
graph two shows, there is only 42.40% college enrollment for those who graduated from
Orr High School while those from Simon High have a college enrollment percentage of 77.2
(Bennett, 2015). Educational advancement is at the center of giving individuals an
opportunity for increased life chances in which they can advance in the world as they so
choose.
0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00%
PSAE Composite
Graduation rate
College enrollment
Educational Attainment
Chicago Chatham West Garfield Park
Graph 2

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Values to Consider
Economic Outcomes
Economic development practice should not be driven purely by the market’s desires.
Development should be pursued only to increase the economic stability of the entire
community through increased governmental control over the market. For example, Wal-
Mart is highly subsidized by governments as it is believed that they “boost employment and
expand the economy” when in actuality, its presence causes “local businesses dollars that
once circulated locally, generating economic activity and jobs, to cease to do so” (Mitchell,
2006). The main concern should then be for the stability of the local economy to truly effect
the lives of the poor so they can increase their probability to better themselves both from
an economic and political standpoint (Reese, Fasenfest, 2004). In this way, localities can
better ensure that the changes in their community will be a more equitable distribution of
wealth. Also in order to ensure that the people within the community are being directly
affected, it would be important to note if per capita income has increased, and if it has not,
then a shift in policy may be needed.
Health Outcomes
The outcomes one should aimto achieve through implementation of policy with
respect to health care in West Garfield Park would be for the overall rate of infectious
diseases, teen birth rate, and tuberculosis to decrease while the rate of health care
providers and the insured increase. Teen birth rate and infectious diseases in the area are
much higher than the Chicago averages with 57 teen births per 1,000 residents while West
Garfield Park’s teen birth rate was 114.9 per 1,000. This is double the rate of Chicago and

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may also contribute to the lack of educational attainment within the neighborhood,
overcrowded housing, and financial instability if the pregnancy is unplanned. So lowering
the birth rate is a primary concern not only for individuals, but for the community as a
whole as it contributes to the sequence of poverty. Another goal is to achieve equal
distribution of quality health care and its benefits without a heavy cost problem. In valuing
this, it insures that health policy takes into consideration the social dimensions than inhibit
health services by focusing on the poor having the same access and financial burdens of the
wealthy.
Education Outcomes
The values used to judge policy with regards to education could be to compare the
rate of high school graduation and college enrollment after enacting a policy to see if the
percentage increased. Furthermore, using aptitude tests may also prove to be useful as they
can be compared and then used to judge the ability of a person’s skill for future work.
Another outcome to strive for is the shift in attitude, beliefs, and values has changed along
with an increase in the individual’s quality of life and civil or social development. Through
this, their views may shift into more positive thoughts and as their civil development
increases, then they may become more involved with other members or institutions within
the community thereby accumulating social capital which can result in the sharing of
resources, engagement in service, and a sense of belonging. This can further the possibility
for increased democracy within the community as well which , according to Gianpaolo
Baiocchio, can lead to the empowerment of the poor and increased social justice through
social transformation and activism(2001).

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Development Strategies
Economic
In attempting to develop the community, a program that has achieved some success
already is Bethel New Life’s Community Investment Program. The existing program provides
low-interest loans to businesses and non-profits that are located in in the West Side of
Chicago. They have given over $9.9 million to West Side businesses that have provided
capital for start-up, renovation, expansion, inventory, and equipment. (Bethel New Life,
2015). “Poor access to credit remains a significant barrier to small business development
and growth among minority-owned firms and businesses located in modest income urban
neighborhoods” (Immergluck, 2004) which accurately describes the state of this
community. With a per capita income that is about 40% less than the per capita income for
Chicago, it is vital to expand the availability of credit for people so they have the
opportunity to create financial stability and wealth for themselves.
In assisting the efforts of a prominent community development corporation that has
an extensive history in the community, it would help to solidify the presence of another
$20,320
$27,148
$10,951
$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
Chatham Chicago West Garfield Park
Per Capita IncomeGraph 3

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organization operating within the community such as the Good Communities Foundation.
As there has already been success with this program the likelihood for success is all but
assured, however the one issue with this may be that Bethel New Life does not simply serve
the West Garfield Park area. They also provide assistance to other neighborhoods in the
West Side of Chicago such as Austin or East Garfield Park. If the goal is focus aid on West
Garfield Park then there must be stipulations attached to any financial support given. The
likely contribution this will make to the communities development is to not only increase
opportunities for individuals, but the community could have greater access to resources at
more affordable prices. Stores given loans for expansion or renovations ensures they do not
have to increase prices very significantly as they have more time and flexibility if they are
not under severe financial burdens. Furthermore, through the expansion of business
development, the neighborhood becomes more attractive to external business entities or
people which can bring their services or money into the area increasing the local economy’s
stability and autonomy.
Health
A development strategy that would benefit this community would be to repurpose a
vacant building into a health care center. There are 283 vacant building in the neighborhood
(City of Chicago, 2015) many of which could be used as a healthcare office. The health
service should be aimed towards low-median income households or those with little to no
health insurance. As this is a continuing problem for many in the community, there should
be a focus on prenatal and infant services as well as treatment for infectious diseases such
as gonorrhea as there were 5,560 cases per 100,000 in the neighborhood last year

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compared to the Chicago rate of 1,259 per 100,000 in 2011 (Paral, 2012). Furthermore,
access to contraceptives would also be vital in the cause to decrease the incidents of teen
pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. It may also be important to discuss with
current healthcare professionals from the area what other health concerns to be mindful of
as they already serve the community and would know what medical resources they are
lacking.
Also, in order to garner support, one should try and convene members of the
community so they can discuss their healthcare needs. If people are more concerned over
the healthcare needs of children in the community rather than in other services, then those
needs should be addressed as opposed to what members outside of the community best
see fit. If the community does not support the actions, then there will be limited likelihood
of success. A participatory approach can play a “major role in bolstering…credibility and
political security and in winning support for the plan” along with ensuring “citizens were
given the chance to interact directly with planning staff” (Williamson, 2011). Furthermore,
as healthcare services are quite limited within the region, it will provide for a more “broad
array of local services and amenities… [making] a community a more attractive place to
both potential businesses and residents (Williamson, Imboscio, Alperovitz, 2002) which
implies a higher quality of life for residents as well. Overall, the likelihood success of this
social service being inserted in the community is fairly high as there is a clear need, market,
and benefit to doing so.
Education

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A developmental strategy to increase educational achievement would be to provide
an after school program dedicated to creating a safe environment in which kids can improve
in tasks such as reading, writing, problem-solving, and social skills. This would increase their
ability to learn faster, improve comprehension, and teach them how to interact in positive
ways. It may also be important to provide after school services because of the high number
of single parent households within the community. This not only improves their child’s
learning ability but could serve as an informal child care service. The parent would know
that their child is being well cared for while they have time to focus on other matters.
Although it would be equally important to try an incorporate parents into this program as
well. In doing so, the program can help parents keep their children on track by educating
them as to what the developmental goals are both physically and mentally. Also, as the
access to adequate food sources plagues the neighborhood, they can instruct parents on
proper nutrition and provide a space in which parents and children can interact in positive
ways free of stress.
The contribution of this program to the community’s development would be
increased educational skills along with increased familial involvement. In strengthening
families and ensuring for the care of children, people will be less stressed. “Those living in
concentrated poverty are bombarded by stress. High crime rates, noise, overcrowding,
unemployment, shortage of stores…are all stressors” (Drier, Mollenkopf, Swanstrom, 2013).
Chronic stress such as this manifests itself through health consequences like cardiovascular
disease or premature death as well making stress free environments an imperative need. In
providing both children and their parents with this stress free program, the community will

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not just experience educational benefits but also health benefits that will infuse with the
rest of the community.

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Mayor Emanuel andthe ChicagoDepartmentof PublicHealthLaunchPlayStreets.MayorsPress
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