Neighborhood Association Tool Kit

Table of Contents | Section 2 | Section 3 | Section 4 | Section 5 | Section 6 | Section 7 | Section 8 | Section 9 | Section 10

Section 1 – First Steps

You've decided you want to start working toward positive change in your neighborhood.  You have some ideas, but you will need a team to make a difference.

First you need to organize a core group of leaders in your neighborhood.  Then work with this group to set the boundaries of your neighborhood.  Next, establish a general background of the neighborhood.  Then contact all of your neighbors and get them involved in the effort.  Finally, hold a first neighborhood-wide meeting.  These steps are elaborated on below:

Step One – Identify Core Group and Plan First Meeting

Contact one or two neighbors you are familiar with and who share your thoughts on benefits and goals of forming a neighborhood association. This will be your core group. After sharing ideas, make a short list of potentially “like-minded” neighbors. If you haven’t done so already, contact United Neighborhoods of Evansville for some ideas and resource materials.

Invite your list of neighbors over for cake and coffee. During this meeting, find out each person’s passion or interest. Be sure everyone is on the same page and can agree on a few issues to pursue.

Get everyone thinking about some initial and flexible considerations, such as the main purpose of your association, physical boundaries, and the date and location of the first meeting.

Step Two – Set the Boundaries

Decide where “the neighborhood” starts and ends and make these parameters your boundaries. Determine boundaries based on physical boundaries (e.g. main roadway), natural boundaries (e.g. park, woods, or river), or sentiment. You will need to define your boundaries based upon street names and block numbers. Check with United Neighborhoods of Evansville to be sure your boundaries do not overlap with those of another neighborhood association.

Keep the neighborhood manageable in size. The neighborhood should be small enough for members to pass out flyers door-to-door. Too large might be two miles by two miles. Too small might be four blocks.

Step Three – Get a General Background

Before you get too far into the planning of your neighborhood association you need some basic background on the neighborhood. Talk to long time residents and research the history of the area. Find out the first homes, significant natural or personal events, and ethnic background. Plan a naming contest. The name may be based on history, a landmark, a nearby school, or a symbolic image. By researching the general background of your neighborhood, you can install a sense of pride and motivation in residents.

Step Four – Contact Your Neighbors and Get Them Involved

Announce the first meeting by personally distributing flyers. Also, have local churches put notices in their bulletins. Contact nearby schools and ask them to distribute hand-outs or brochures.

Step Five – Hold the First Neighborhood-Wide Meeting (See Section 2 for more information)