VOLUNTEERS MAKE IT WORK

Published on Wednesday, January 5, 1994
© 1994 The Arizona Republic

My neighbors and I have increased our property values, saved Phoenix citizens many tax dollars and renewed the life of our neighborhood in some rather dramatic ways.

We live in Fairview Place, located between Veteran's Memorial Coliseum and Encanto Park. The birth of our neighborhood association in summer of 1990 ended a tendency toward deterioration and began a genuine revitalization. Although we still are not without problems or controversial issues, Fairview Place is a real neighborhood again, where people know each other and cooperate to accomplish substantial improvements in our quality of living.

What does it take to start a neighborhood organization? I founded our association by identifying and initiating three projects that people could support: Increase property values and prestige, through an official Historic Designation; plant free trees for our streets, through Forestry for Phoenix; and reduce crime
through Block Watch.

Although I initiated these projects, the work of completing them was accomplished with other neighborhood leaders and volunteers. For example, the immense amount of work that has gone into our historic designation was led by Donna DeFlorio-LaFronz, and Gerry and Marge McCue. Neighborhood leader Mike Foose led the effort that resulted in the planting of hundreds of 15-gallon-size trees that now line the streets.

Our strong Block Watch continues to keep crime low. Participation in two National Nights Out exceeded our expectations: Hundreds of residents came out and got to know each other (and had a lot of fun, too).

What does it take to hold together a neighborhood association? While regular meetings and occasional social events are important, we attribute a great deal of our success to our regularly published, informative newsletter. It was the instrument that kept residents informed and solicited their help for all the projects mentioned. We were fortunate to have a profession
ally experienced neighbor, Patrick Neary, produce the newsletter. But any newsletter is better than no newsletter; it keeps your neighbors feeling involved. Even if they don't always attend meetings, everyone will read your newsletter.

Savings to taxpayers resulted from the way we pursued historic designation. All the required research and paperwork was completed by neighborhood volunteers. Other areas have relied on city or state funds, at costs that normally exceed many thousands of dollars. At over 340 homes, we are the largest neighborhood in the state to have completed the work entirely by volunteers.

Perhaps we can be an inspiration for other neighborhoods, an example of what regular people can do when they get together for the common good.

We appreciate the guidance we receive from our elected officials, but we ourselves take the responsibility for making things happen.
Richard Donley Fox
Co-chair
Fairview Place Citizens Association

Type of story: COMMUNITY VIEW / LETTER