Neighborhood Amenities Inventory:
Walkability and Bikeability
Status: With the help of several dozen community participants, we completed the neighborhood amenities inventory and are writing up a report on the results. We have created several maps from the information collected. You are welcome to use these maps. Please credit the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition Land Use Action Team if you publish them.
Maps created from Neighborhood Inventory data
Areas of Corvallis within 1/4 Mile of a Bus Stop, Grocery Store and a Park
Areas of Corvallis within 1/4 Mile of a School, Bus Stop, Grocery Store and a Park
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Distance to Nearest Bus Stop
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Distance to Nearest Food Store
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Distance to OSU
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Distance to Nearest Park
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Distance to Nearest Elementary, Middle or High School
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Distance to Nearest Major Multi-Use Trail
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Locations of Non-Continuous Sidewalks
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Locations of Sidewalk Obstructions
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Locations and Sizes of Landscape Buffers along Public Streets
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Presence of Sidewalks along Public Streets
Citywide Map of Corvallis – Tree Coverage along Sidewalks
Walkability Inventory Maps
Street Inventory Sheet
Overview of Corvallis Walkability and Bikeability Study
Walkability Score Map with Methodology
Radial Distance from Bus Stops Map
Radial Distance from Food Store Map
Walking Distance to Bus Stop in Central Corvallis/OSU Area Map
Walking Distance to Grocery
Walking Distance to Multi-use Trail in Central Corvallis/OSU Area Map
Walking Distance to Park in Central Corvallis/OSU Area Map
Walking Distance to Public Schools in Central Corvallis/OSU Area Map
Walking Distance to OSU in Central Corvallis/OSU Area Map
Tree Coverage of Sidewalks in Central Corvallis/OSU Area Map
Bike Accidents Map
Pedestrian Accidents Map
Project Scope:
The initial large-scale project of the Land Use Action Team was a walking observational inventory of existing and planned neighborhoods for range of amenities, walkability, and bikeability, including those that are residential, mixed-use, commercial, and industrial. Based on our research on how other cities in the United States have assessed these aspects of their communities, we developed an inventory tool that is suited to Corvallis. A broad spectrum of community members participated in the inventory project to observe and record the range of neighborhood amenities, diversity of land uses and housing types, street life and aesthetics, and transportation environment of Corvallis neighborhoods.
One goal of this Corvallis sustainability envisioning process was to raise awareness throughout the community about sustainable community form, land use, and regulations, and to promote community dialogue on what we want to consider as we make decisions that influence the future of Corvallis.
Results of the inventory will be used to help identify barriers to walkability and bikeability, and to prioritize improvements as funds are available. We will share the information we gather with the City of Corvallis. We anticipate that the information may also be used in grant applications to help implement new bike and pedestrian projects around town, and to make necessary changes in zoning and land development regulations to meet sustainable land use goals.
Many aspects of the Land Use Goals, Strategies, and Actions were directly inspired by the Corvallis 2020 Vision Statement
The inventory tool that we developed provides a set of indicators that can be used to measure our progress toward the lofty goals outlined in the 2020 Vision Statement. For example, the 2020 Vision Statement identifies this goal: Corvallis is “a compact city, environmentally aware and connected to natural areas, with a vibrant downtown core, vertical mixed-use, public gathering spaces, protected and accessible natural areas, locally owned businesses, bicycle, pedestrian, and mass-transit focused transportation options, with an involved citizenry that actively participates in public policy and decision-making.”
This inventory project directly implements many portions of the 2020 Vision Statement. For example:
“We value the beauty of our surroundings: the hills, valleys, forests, streams, rivers, and clean air. We value living in a city that is in harmony with these natural beauties, and seek to build for the future with this in mind. Corvallis recognizes the connection between development patterns and impacts on the environment. More efficient land-use through higher densities and compact development reduces the amount of land required for development and the negative impacts of an extended infrastructure. Careful design ensures that development minimizes impacts on plant communities, wildlife habitat, and scenic areas, as well as enhances the sense of place and community character. In order to protect the environment, our growth rate has not exceeded necessary infrastructure. ” “The city’s streams and wetlands act as the backbone for a system of “green fingers” which weave through and connect the city’s open space resources. These “green fingers” provide trail corridors and habitat areas where native plants and wildlife grow and flourish in their natural state. These “green fingers” widen out at community-scale parks and open space preserves and are easily accessible to neighborhoods.”
“Our natural features; hillsides, floodplains, streams, wetlands, and other natural areas are protected and treasured. Wildlife habitat areas, scenic areas, and other natural areas help shape development patterns as we grow. Our natural open space helps buffer flood events, purify our air and water, provide recreational and educational opportunities, and reinforce the community’s distinctive character. Corvallis has identified its open space resources, and has established criteria and priorities for open space protection.”
“Corvallis is encircled by an emerald necklace of parks, scenic vistas, natural habitats, and farm and forest lands that define the city’s boundaries. The OSU Research Forests and the OSU agricultural research lands located within easy walking distance to campus also contribute to the unique character of Corvallis as a land grant college community. Corvallis has established a common open space with Philomath which provides recreational opportunities, wetland protection, and community identity to each city.”
“We value our rivers, our streams, and our watershed, carefully managing them to protect the purity of our water, their aesthetic and biological qualities, and their value as recreational areas. The city’s streams and wetlands act as the backbone for a system of “green fingers” which weave through and connect the city’s open space resources. These “green fingers” provide trail corridors and habitat areas where native plants and wildlife grow and flourish in their natural state. These “green fingers” widen out at community-scale parks and open space preserves and are easily accessible to neighborhoods.”
“Our parks are among our most attractive assets. Scattered throughout the community, the parks vary in size, design and function to meet the need of neighboring areas. Parks accommodate a wide range of recreation activities for all ages. This range includes provision of more passive activities such as bird watching all the way to active sports. The park system includes a mix of developed and natural areas. Parks are equipped with barrier-free play equipment, picnic areas, walking and cycling paths, and benches. Parks also serve as outdoor performance spaces.”
“Our river and hilltop parks are the “crown jewels” of our park system. Acting as community focal points to the south are our riverside parks, providing river access, boating, play areas and natural habitats. A footbridge and bike path over the Mary’s River connect Pioneer and Avery parks. Framing the city to the north and west is a series of hilltop parks which provide panoramic views of Corvallis, the Willamette Valley and the Cascade Range.”
“A citywide network of safe and accessible trails and bicycle paths connect our neighborhoods, parks and open space system. Trails or parks can be reached within a 10-15 minute walk from homes. These neighborhood trails also provide links to more distant recreation trails in McDonald Research Forest, Marys Peak, and with the Corvallis-to-the-Sea Trail.”
“Corvallis in 2020 offers balanced and diverse neighborhoods, incorporating mixed-use, that is accessible to residents without driving, which form the building blocks that support a healthy social, economic, and civic life. Neighborhoods can be defined by the characteristics of neighborhood identity, pedestrian scale, diversity, and the public realm. These characteristics are protected and enhanced in existing neighborhoods and are included in the design of new neighborhoods.”
“All development in Corvallis contributes to the creation of complete neighborhoods. Development standards have been created based on the characteristics of traditional Corvallis neighborhoods. These standards insure that development and redevelopment create, protect, and enhance neighborhood form while facilitating the community-wide needs to improve transportation choices, provide housing for a diverse population within safe attractive neighborhoods, and maintain resource lands, natural areas, and recreational open spaces.
“Most neighborhoods have a clear center or focus and a well-defined edge. The focus may contain shopping, services, and small businesses or a civic facility such as a park, school or satellite postoffice. Community and civic buildings add identity to the neighborhood. The boundary or edge of the neighborhood is defined by topography, open space, or major streets.”
“One can easily and safely walk through a neighborhood within 5-10 minutes. The streets are an interconnecting network with short blocks to disperse traffic and create convenient and direct routes for cyclists and pedestrians. Buildings and trees are close to the street, providing an intimate outdoor room which is comfortable to pedestrians.”
“New neighborhoods contain a mix of uses such as homes, shops, workplaces, services, and public spaces. There is a mix of housing types at varying costs to allow a diversity of household types, ages, and incomes. Several older neighborhoods have incorporated a variety of housing types and small, neighborhood services.”
“A strong public realm is created because the streets are designed as important shared public space for pedestrians and other transportation needs. Buildings are oriented to the street to add security and help define the public space. A variety of types and sizes of public parks and open space give form and structure to neighborhoods.”
“Beginning with studies such as the West Corvallis/North Philomath Plan and the South Corvallis Refinement Plan, the community has been able to identify potential locations for new neighborhoods within the Urban Growth Boundary. Specific Area Plans for these potential neighborhood sites, showing land-uses, street layout, and open space framework, help to insure that incremental development over time and by various property owners/developers creates the kind of places the community desires.”
“Through public process, Neighborhood Refinement Plans have been created for areas in the existing city that have been identified as neighborhoods. These plans guide any construction of new structures, strategic in-fill, or redevelopment in order to enhance, protect, and reinforce the identity, diversity, pedestrian scale, and the shared public spaces, of these neighborhoods.”
Therefore, we feel that participation in this inventory project will provide tangible benefits for participants and for our community as a whole, and will directly implement many of the goals of the 2020 Vision Statement. If you would like to be part of this community-wide sustainability project, please contact Susan or Betty.