River City Church (2)

Neighborhood 360
Assessment

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