Quality of Life Plan

Tepe Park Quality-of-Life Plan

Momentum for Change

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Tepe Park is a neighborhood of 2,000 residents located on the South Side of Evansville just one mile from Downtown. The neighborhood is primarily residential and surrounds a park of the same name. The area has seen a loss of population and has the largest concentration of vacant property in Evansville, yet the spirit of neighbors is beginning to revive the area. The commitment of residents, several organizations and the City of Evansville is resulting in a positive step forward to restore the economic foundation, housing stability and quality-of-life in Tepe Park.

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A number of key assets form the foundation of Tepe Park, from the predominance of single-family homes, to the legacy of beautiful streets such as Riverside Drive and the history of Kentucky Avenue as the Old US 41, provide a unique identity and proud heritage of the community.

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Recently, the City of Evansville has worked with local residents to make upgrades to Tepe Park including a new basketball court and playground in the park, as well as working with the newly formed Land Bank to prioritize acquisition of vacant properties and demolition of vacant structures.

Tepe Park Neighborhood Association has worked over the past several years to bring together neighbors around a variety of community improvement projects – from public safety to community gardens and neighborhood beautification. The result of these improvements shows as neighbors are working in their yards, children are playing in the new basketball court and expectations of residents have gained ground.

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Community One was founded in 2013 after an extensive effort at determining how to have a positive impact in Evansville, bringing leaders from a variety of sectors together to implement change, building on its Christian faith to help people and meet their needs for both spiritual and secure development.

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During this time, its commitment has resulted in tangible results, from completing 300 home repairs in the inner neighborhoods of Evansville to launching a whole house rehab program that has resulted in three homes in Glenwood, two in Tepe Park, and a partnership effort to revitalize Mary Street in Jacobsville along with Habitat for Humanity and HOPE.

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Over the Fall of 2016 and the Spring of 2017, a neighborhood engagement and community planning process was conducted to:

• -  Form consensus around a long-term vision for Tepe Park

• -  Forge partnerships among residents, non-profit organizations, businesses and public agencies

• -  Develop a framework for implementing a sustainable plan for community improvement

• -  Identify a set of priorities that all partners would work in a coordinated way toward implementation

  The Tepe Park Quality-of-Life Plan is the first step toward implementation of a sustained, long-term commitment of all parties. identifies the vision, key priorities and action steps to form a roadmap for Tepe Park.

This plan

Tepe Park Quality-of-Life Plan Draft May 19, 2017

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