At Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, our goal is to support neighborhood residents as they strengthen relationships, identify their priorities, and connect people, organizations, and resources around a shared vision for their neighborhood. The Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI) helped us do just that.

The FNI is a tool used to assess neighborhood health and well-being. It's designed to align residents around strategic development goals and activate sustainable strategies for change, looking at three main categories - social cohesion, economic vitality, and structural integrity, and measuring twelve indicators of neighborhood health.

The resident survey behind the FNI includes more than 100 questions covering different areas of neighborhood life. But the process is about more than collecting data. It creates an opportunity to listen to residents, understand what matters most to them, and start building momentum for their neighborhood's future. Through these conversations, residents identify what they want and need, and just as importantly, recognize the strengths and capabilities already present in their community. Rather than simply pointing out problems, the process gives people room to imagine what was possible and start working toward it together. 

From there, action teams are formed around top neighborhood priorities, leaders step forward, and ideas begin turning into action. Based on the 2022 survey data in the Walnut Neighborhood, one message stood out clearly: residents wanted a welcoming park and gathering space where families, children, and neighbors could connect. 

The Walnut Park Action Team worked alongside the Walnut Neighborhood Association and its residents to make this a reality. Today, it is taking shape. The project is now nearly fully funded, with just under $300,000 raised, and five vacant properties have been acquired to create the new neighborhood park. Every element has been thoughtfully shaped by resident input. The completed space will include a shelter for gathering, safe rubber mulch play surfaces, an interactive walkway, a spinning play feature, a saucer swing, play equipment for children ages 2–12, and a privacy fence.

This project would not be possible without the generosity of our grant partners, donors, community supporters, and the dedicated residents who helped bring it to life. We are grateful to everyone who has invested in the future of the Walnut Neighborhood.

The story of the Walnut Neighborhood Park is a reminder that meaningful neighborhood change doesn't happen because of data alone. It happens when people come together, listen to one another, recognize the strengths within their community, and work together to make something new possible. Join us at 5pm on September 3rd for the park groundbreaking on the corner of Almond and Clay Street!

The Walnut Neighborhood Park Fundraiser was this past Friday, August 21st, in front of First Presbyterian Church. Volunteers helped sell hot dogs, ice cream sandwiches, chips, cookies, water, and other salty snacks to raise money for the park project.