River City Church (2)
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Neighborhood 360<br />
Assessment
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD 360 ASSESSMENT<br />
Purpose of Assessment<br />
Introduction<br />
History of <strong>River</strong>side<br />
Demographics<br />
Neighborhood Observations<br />
Neighborhood Surveys<br />
Current Tensions<br />
Community Wants, Needs and Dreams<br />
Takeaways<br />
Next Steps<br />
Talk About It<br />
Notes<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
7<br />
9<br />
10<br />
10<br />
11<br />
12<br />
13<br />
14<br />
1
PURPOSE OF ASSESSMENT<br />
The vision of <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Church</strong> is that one<br />
day every man, woman and child In<br />
<strong>River</strong>side and the surrounding communities<br />
will have a gospel centered interaction on a<br />
daily basis. What that means is that we will<br />
go out to meet our community where they<br />
are for the Kingdom vs expecting them to<br />
come to where we are.<br />
To better understand the <strong>City</strong> of <strong>River</strong>side<br />
and the current dreams, bridges, and<br />
barriers that exist, we commissioned a team<br />
of volunteers to conduct an in-depth<br />
neighborhood study. Our goal was to<br />
become students of our community in order<br />
to become better servants in the community<br />
while hoping to learn:<br />
WHO we are called to serve<br />
WHERE God is already working<br />
WHAT are the greatest community needs<br />
HOW we can help meet those needs<br />
We believe that this assessment is a tool to<br />
help us assess not only the needs but also<br />
the desires and dreams of our neighbors. As<br />
we more fully understand these<br />
needs/desires we can utilize our giftings,<br />
talents and abilities to match and see our<br />
community become a place where we not<br />
only survive but thrive.<br />
Ultimately for many of our neighbors to<br />
understand the truths of the Gospel in the<br />
life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus<br />
and the joy of fruitful walking in His<br />
Kingdom.<br />
2
INTRODUCTION<br />
<strong>River</strong>side, Iowa is a city of just over 1000 residents located in Washington County. The city<br />
of <strong>River</strong>side makes up about half the population of Iowa Township and is part of the Iowa<br />
<strong>City</strong> Metro Area. The city limits are an unusual shape including some businesses along Iowa<br />
Hwy 22, the <strong>River</strong>side Casino, and most of the Blue Top Ridge Golf Course. <strong>River</strong>side is<br />
neighbored by other rural subdivisions in Iowa Township including Timberline Estates, St.<br />
Ann’s View, Stone Ridge Estates, Saddlewood Estates, Windmill View, Cedar Bay, East View<br />
Subdivision, Lost Acres Subdivision, and Quail Ridge Subdivision. <strong>River</strong>side is also bordered<br />
by Kalone and Lake Tree.<br />
To <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Church</strong><br />
<strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Church</strong> originated from initial discussions<br />
about planting a church five years ago. Three years later,<br />
<strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> held its first worship service. Since then, the<br />
membership and attendance of <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> has grown, and<br />
the church continues to thrive. Most of the church’s<br />
regular attenders live outside of <strong>River</strong>side city limits,<br />
some traveling from as far away as 40 miles one way.<br />
Currently, <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> does not have a physical church<br />
building which yields struggles with the logistics of<br />
being a “church on wheels.” This includes the wear on<br />
equipment and set-up crews. Additionally, a lack of<br />
physical space has put significant limitations on<br />
education programming, youth groups, meetings, and<br />
other necessary office functions. Despite its current<br />
hardship, <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Church</strong> is continuing to grow as it<br />
reaches people within <strong>River</strong>side city limits and beyond.<br />
3
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE<br />
1<br />
The settlement of <strong>River</strong>side was established in 1872 and incorporated in 1882. The name is<br />
likely in reference to the townsite location on the English <strong>River</strong>. Early faith communities in the<br />
area included Christodelphians, Baptists, Methodists, United Brethren, and Catholics. The<br />
Muscatine and Iowa <strong>City</strong> railroads arrived in 1873 which allowed for growth of the new town.<br />
In 1879, the Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern Railway built a 66 mile branch of railroad<br />
from Iowa <strong>City</strong> to What Cheer via <strong>River</strong>side. After many ownership changes, the railroad was<br />
abandoned in the early 1970s.<br />
Trekfest, a significant event in the calendar of <strong>River</strong>side, was started in 1983 when <strong>River</strong>side<br />
was named as the Future Birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk of the Star Trek TV series. The<br />
development of <strong>River</strong>side Casino has also impacted the trajectory of <strong>River</strong>side. The plan for the<br />
Casino was approved in 2004 with groundbreaking in 2005 and grand opening in 2006. This<br />
created an income stream which has allowed for many city improvements and initiatives.<br />
<strong>River</strong>side, though a relatively small community, has continued to grow as new homes are being<br />
built in burgeoning residential developments. The residents of <strong>River</strong>side continue to be a tightknit<br />
community with many residents having family roots going back to <strong>River</strong>side’s earliest<br />
farming community. The community is very social with graduation parties, sports events, Trek<br />
Fest, semi-annual garage sales, and church activities bringing people together.<br />
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DEMOGRAPHICS<br />
Total Population<br />
1054<br />
Total Households<br />
452<br />
<br />
Sex Ratio<br />
45% M<br />
55% F<br />
<br />
Median Age<br />
41.6<br />
<br />
Race / Ethnicity<br />
97.9% White<br />
<br />
Household Types<br />
<br />
Married<br />
49.6%<br />
Single Female<br />
9.7%<br />
Single Male<br />
2.2%<br />
One Person Family<br />
30.8%<br />
Other Non-Family<br />
7.7%<br />
<br />
Marital Status<br />
<br />
Never Married<br />
M 27% / F 28%<br />
Married<br />
M 58% / F 48%<br />
Separated / Divorced<br />
M 13% / F 12%<br />
Widowed<br />
M 2% / F 13%<br />
<br />
Median Household Income<br />
$56,200<br />
<br />
Employment Status (Age 25-64)<br />
<br />
Employed<br />
70.9%<br />
Unemployed<br />
2.9%<br />
Armed Forces<br />
0.4%<br />
Not in Labor Force<br />
25.6%<br />
<br />
Households on SNAP<br />
10.6%<br />
(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)<br />
Residents Below Poverty Level<br />
Adults 25 and older<br />
Adults 18-24<br />
Children<br />
<strong>River</strong>side<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
8.0%<br />
14.3%<br />
8.0%<br />
Iowa Township<br />
2522<br />
924<br />
<br />
50.8% M<br />
49.2% F<br />
<br />
42.3<br />
<br />
98.2% White<br />
<br />
<br />
64.0%<br />
4.8%<br />
6.3%<br />
19.3%<br />
5.7%<br />
<br />
<br />
M 22% / F 20%<br />
M 66% / F 62%<br />
M 12% / F 10%<br />
M 1% / F 8%<br />
<br />
$73,100<br />
<br />
<br />
76.3%<br />
1.4%<br />
0.2%<br />
22.1%<br />
<br />
5.2%<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
n/a<br />
n/a<br />
n/a<br />
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DEMOGRAPHIC INSIGHTS<br />
Important Findings<br />
<strong>River</strong>side generally has a larger middle-aged population than Iowa Township. 35.6% of<br />
adults in <strong>River</strong>side are 45-64 years old while 27.6% of people fall into that age range in<br />
Iowa Township.<br />
In <strong>River</strong>side, 49.6% of people are married compared to 64% in Iowa Township. Additionally,<br />
<strong>River</strong>side has a higher number of one-person households - 30.8% - compared to the<br />
Township - 19.3%.<br />
18% of households in <strong>River</strong>side are households of single mothers.<br />
Comparison to <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />
While 8.4% of <strong>River</strong>side residents live below the Federal Poverty Level, <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Church</strong><br />
does not appear to reflect the lower socioeconomic status portion of the community. Based<br />
on the variance in the median income of <strong>River</strong>side compared to Iowa Township and that<br />
only 10% of the congregation lives in <strong>River</strong>side, <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> has a higher socio-economic<br />
status than <strong>River</strong>side.<br />
<strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> tends to have a higher percentage of individuals under 21 compared to the<br />
community at large.<br />
The congregation at <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> does not currently have any regular attendees who are of<br />
varied ethnic backgrounds. This is lower than <strong>River</strong>side as a whole which has 2.1% of<br />
residents that do not identify as White.<br />
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NEIGHBORHOOD OBSERVATIONS<br />
<strong>River</strong>side Business<br />
<strong>River</strong>side has a number of businesses that create our city’s commercial<br />
environment. These businesses include a local bank, restaurants, a<br />
Casey’s gas station, a small Star Trek museum, Schnoebelen<br />
Equipment, <strong>River</strong>side Feed, welding shops, vehicle repair and body<br />
shops, and other small businesses to meet the needs of the local<br />
residents. There are also businesses outside of the housing center near<br />
Highway 218 including Dollar General, Kum & Go, Casey’s, Bud’s<br />
Custom Meats, Subway, and a hall for weddings, receptions, and<br />
events.<br />
Political Engagement<br />
The <strong>City</strong> of <strong>River</strong>side has the Mayor/Council system of government,<br />
with five <strong>City</strong> Council members elected on a staggered basis. The<br />
Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month in the<br />
<strong>River</strong>side <strong>City</strong> Hall Council Chambers.<br />
As a small rural town in the midwest, <strong>River</strong>side leans towards the<br />
conservative side. Mayor Schneider is very active in the town, and law<br />
enforcement is contracted out to another town about 15 mins away.<br />
<strong>Church</strong> and Religion<br />
<strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Church</strong> is one of four churches in <strong>River</strong>side. The other<br />
churches are St. Mary’s Catholic <strong>Church</strong>, Trinity United Methodist<br />
<strong>Church</strong>, and The <strong>Church</strong> in <strong>River</strong>side. Most everyone in the community<br />
would consider themselves religious, which is often labeled "Iowa<br />
Nice", meaning everyone is usually very cordial and sincere, yet<br />
religion in more of a tradition, passed down from generation to<br />
generation, and less about a personal relationship with Jesus.<br />
7
Industry and Vocation<br />
In <strong>River</strong>side, the most common sources of work are farming, <strong>River</strong>side Casino, Casey’s, La Chiva<br />
Loka, People’s Trust and Savings Bank, the <strong>City</strong> of <strong>River</strong>side, and family-run businesses. Many<br />
residents also travel to Iowa <strong>City</strong> to work at the University of Iowa, Proctor and Gamble among<br />
other vocational positions.<br />
Connectivity<br />
The city park in <strong>River</strong>side is a major source of contact for <strong>River</strong>side residents. The park contains<br />
a stage, two baseball diamonds, a dog park, a concession stand, and restrooms that are all used<br />
for community events such as Trek Fest.<br />
A variety of other <strong>River</strong>side locations are important gathering places for community members.<br />
Madeline’s Coffee House is often a popular location for locals to meet. <strong>River</strong>side’s contract with<br />
the Kalona Public Library allows <strong>River</strong>side residents to use Kalona, Coralville, and Iowa <strong>City</strong><br />
libraries at no charge which provide other points of contact for the community. Other points of<br />
contact for community members include programs such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts as well<br />
as committees for various entities in the community.<br />
While there are few places for residents to gather together, there is still a sense that residents of<br />
<strong>River</strong>side are unaware of what happens around the town.<br />
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NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEYS<br />
Of the neighborhood surveys conducted over the course of this assessment,<br />
five common responses emerged.<br />
Most people like living in <strong>River</strong>side as it is a small, quiet, friendly<br />
community that is close to Iowa <strong>City</strong>. Many residents noted the<br />
importance of having strong relationships with people in their<br />
community.<br />
The majority of people surveyed would like to see downtown<br />
revitalized with more businesses, including a grocery store, to draw<br />
people to town.<br />
Many respondents noted a need for a community center that could be<br />
used for activities, events, and possibly a children’s daycare and<br />
senior center.<br />
Many people voiced the opinion that more trees need to be planted<br />
to replace trees being removed for street projects.<br />
A large number of respondents were very passionate in their response<br />
about “slum looking” or “run-down” properties. By this they were often<br />
referring to neighbors who have abandoned vehicles and trash in yards,<br />
RVs in yards with people living in them, and houses in serious disrepair.<br />
<strong>River</strong>side is full of individuals who love their city and what it has to offer and want to<br />
see it thrive going into the future.<br />
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1<br />
Community and Cultural Tensions<br />
Even though <strong>River</strong>side is considered to be a tightly knit community, there are still shared<br />
tensions among community members. Infrastructure has been a major source of concern for<br />
<strong>River</strong>side residents. This becomes even more of a concern as <strong>River</strong>side keeps growing. Some<br />
residents have felt that the various municipal projects, including street projects, have divided<br />
the community. Residents are also concerned with the inconsistencies of city government as<br />
well as the slow progress towards making the idea of a community center a reality.<br />
Community Wants, Needs, and Dreams<br />
<strong>River</strong>side is an ever-growing city, and its residents have hopes for the future of their home.<br />
The desires of residents in <strong>River</strong>side most often coincide with wanting to strengthen the<br />
community. Many residents hope for progress on the establishment of a community center to<br />
provide a common space for <strong>River</strong>side residents to host events and interact with one another.<br />
According to the people of <strong>River</strong>side, there is already deep connectedness within the town - a<br />
favorite aspect of living in <strong>River</strong>side - but they would always like to get to know their<br />
neighbors better.<br />
Other hopes expressed by residents include addressing mental health needs in the community,<br />
developing daycare services, making updates to the park and trails to promote outdoor activity,<br />
and restoring buildings in downtown <strong>River</strong>side.<br />
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TAKEAWAYS<br />
What we want our <strong>Church</strong> Family to know:<br />
1. The spiritual climate of <strong>River</strong>side is very much the “Iowa nice” religion. Meaning I am<br />
cordial and sincere and yet likely may not know Jesus.<br />
2. There is a spirit of hopelessness and emptiness over our town.<br />
3. 18% of households in <strong>River</strong>side are single moms.<br />
4. 50% of <strong>River</strong>side residents interviewed have been here 15+ years.<br />
5. Places and events to bring the town together are important avenues to spread God’s<br />
love to our neighbors.<br />
What we want <strong>River</strong>side Community to know:<br />
1. We love this city and we want to help it thrive.<br />
2. You don't have to have your life neatly put together to join us on a Sunday morning.<br />
3.<br />
Jesus sees you, knows you, and loves you.<br />
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NEXT STEPS<br />
Given what the Neighborhood Assessment Team has learned while listening and learning<br />
from others in our community, we believe the are several ways we as a church family can get<br />
involved in the lives of those around us, with the ultimate hope of making a true Kingdom<br />
Impact.<br />
Example 1 - Caring for young / single moms<br />
Host mother's day out events, providing childcare so moms are able to<br />
have some time to take care of others needs...<br />
Provide support groups and/or mentors (extended grandparents)<br />
other ideas...<br />
Example 2 - Community Events<br />
Have quarterly "Block Parties" solely intended to provide opportunities<br />
for people to gather and build friendships<br />
... other ideas<br />
Example 3 - Community Service Projects<br />
Work with the <strong>City</strong> Council, or other entities to help the elderly or<br />
others in need with home repair.<br />
Community / Downtown beautification projects in partnership with<br />
local businesses who want to make a difference<br />
After school programs...<br />
etc.<br />
What great opportunities to Be an Ambassador!<br />
“…in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against<br />
them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are<br />
ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s<br />
behalf: ‘Be reconciled to God.’”<br />
2 Corinthians 5:19-20<br />
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TALK ABOUT IT<br />
1. What, if anything, has changed your understanding of the <strong>River</strong>side community?<br />
2. What new opportunities do you see for <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> to love and connect with our community<br />
as a result of this study?<br />
3. How do you imagine this study will change or impact our church? Think through what<br />
this means for our Sunday hospitality team, kids ministry, small group leaders and<br />
worship team.<br />
4. How might your small group use the insights in this study to engage and connect<br />
with the community around you?<br />
Our dream is to be a church that loves and serves this community in ordinary, yet courageous<br />
ways! We do this by each member of <strong>River</strong> <strong>City</strong> listening, learning, and loving our<br />
community. Will you join us?<br />
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NOTES<br />
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Neighborhood 360<br />
Assessment<br />
For we loved you so much that we<br />
shared with you not only God's Good<br />
News but our own lives as well.<br />
1 Thes. 2:8