I focused my study on a section of Ohio City, a neighborhood just west of downtown Cleveland. Although I am familiar with Ohio City, I decided to walk around the neighborhood and surrounding areas with these specific questions in mind:
How is the neighborhood’s food environment?
Sidewalks are well-paved and wide enough to be accessible, but they were inconsistently plowed after the recent snowfall, which could present difficulties especially for disabled and elderly people. I visited during the day, but I did not see many streetlights that would lead me to believe the area was well-lit at night. The neighborhood itself did not have a lot of traffic, but the main roads bordering it were congested. There are bus stops along the border of my selected section (seen in the upper left corner of the map), but none in the actual neighborhood. While it is a relatively small section, it may benefit less-mobile residents to have a stop within the area. The neighborhood felt safe, and there were ample protected crosswalks.
How and where do families in the neighborhood access healthy food?
On the border of the neighborhood, there are two stores that sell food products: La Borincana Foods and Ohio City Provisions (seen in blue on the map). Neither of these has a huge selection of fresh foods. The nearest stores with fresh food are the West Side Market and Dave’s Market, both of which are 0.6 mile away. This is a two-minute drive, a seven-minute bus ride average (which runs every thirty minutes), or a twelve-minute walk, according to Google Maps.
The West Side Market, open three weekdays and on the weekends, has a wide variety of options, including a whole section dedicated to fresh produce vendors. There are also stands for meats, cheeses, bakery, and prepared meals and drinks. It is like a farmer’s market. Dave’s Market is a more traditional grocery store (very similar to Giant Eagle) and is a small chain in inner city Cleveland. Their selection of fresh produce and meats is also ample.
The West Side Market:
Dave’s Supermarket:
Would residents say the area is food secure? Why or why not?
With a large grocery store (Dave’s Market) nearby, and other options in the area, combined with access to a bus line and walkable routes, I believe the residents would say the area is food secure.
Is the neighborhood a “food swamp” or a “food desert”? Why or why not?
This neighborhood is neither a food swamp nor a food desert. There are a lot of restaurants in the area because Ohio City is a sort of arts district but, although some are fast food restaurants, there is not an overwhelming amount and there are other options. Additionally, the neighborhood is not a food desert because there are stores in close proximity that sell fresh produce and meats and other nutritious foods at affordable prices.
What, if anything, can be done to improve the food-ways of the neighborhood?
Adding a bus stop or two within the neighborhood would increase mobility and provide even easier access to fresh food to its residents. Ensuring that sidewalks are in safe condition during all seasons of the year would allow those without a car or bus pass to have confidence in their ability to access fresh food as well. Otherwise, I think this neighborhood has very good access to fresh food with a large grocery store and farmer’s-market-style store within reasonable walking distance.