Survey of Atlanta’s Urban Forest and Neighborhood Charac

OMB No. 0596-0237

Exp. Date: (to be updated)

Survey of Atlanta’s Urban Forest and Neighborhood Characteristics

Hello!

Morehouse College and the USDA Forest Service are conducting a survey to get a better understanding of people's interest in neighborhood trees. This information is being requested because research shows that urban green spaces like neighborhood trees can be beneficial to people’s well-being. The survey should take 12 minutes or less to complete.

When the word "trees," is used, it means any woody vegetation with a trunk larger than your wrist. This does NOT include bushes or shrubs. This survey also uses the word “neighborhood.” You can interpret this term in any way that makes sense to you.

This information will be combined with data collected on the physical attributes of trees in this neighborhood to help the Morehouse College and the USDA Forest Service understand how trees may contribute to neighborhood quality. Participation in this survey is voluntary, and you may skip any question or stop responding at any time. The answers you provide will be kept strictly confidential.

We ask that the person 18 years old or older living in the home who had the most recent birthday complete the survey. When you are have completed it, please place it in the envelope provided and leave it outside your doorstep. We will collect it by 6pm this evening. If that is too soon, we can come back to get the survey tomorrow at noon.

Thank you very much for your time!

The first 7 questions relate to activities at your home.

Now, please tell us how you feel about the following statements. Simply check the box underneath the option that matches your opinion.

1. I spend a lot of time caring for trees around our home.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused

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2. The high cost of maintenance prevents me from caring for trees in this property.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused

•     

3. Tree maintenance is a low priority compared to other problems with my home.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused

•     

4. I know enough about tree care to improve trees around my home.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused

•     

5. This household receives information from the city about proper tree maintenance.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused

•     

6. The high number of vacant properties near my home discourages me from maintaining trees on this property.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused

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7. I know now to obtain information about tree care.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused

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These next questions focus on other people in your neighborhood. We understand that you don’t know exactly how other people in your neighborhood might answer, but we are interested in your perceptions and feelings about your neighbors and how they act.

Also, people understand their physical “neighborhood” in different ways. We do not offer a definition of your neighborhood but invite you to interpret your neighborhood boundaries in terms that make the most sense to you. Please check the box underneath the response that best expresses how you feel about that statement or question.

8. People in my neighborhood would be interested organizing to plant trees in this neighborhood.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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9. People in my neighborhood have the political connections to demand that the city plant more trees in this neighborhood.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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10. I see a lot of people caring for trees in this neighborhood.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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11. Residents in my neighborhood work with tree experts to help decide what kinds of street trees the city should plant in this neighborhood.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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12. The city takes better care of trees in other parts of the city than in my neighborhood.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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13. The city council representative for this district is interested in preserving neighborhood trees.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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14. My neighborhood is connected with others in the city that are concerned about preserving trees in Atlanta.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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Again, thinking about your neighborhood in whatever way makes sense to you, please tell us how you feel about your neighborhood over the past year. Like above, we’re interested in your views and perceptions of your neighbors and the neighborhood. Check the box underneath the response that best expresses how you feel about that statement or question.

15. This is a close-knit neighborhood.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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16. Most people in my neighborhood can be trusted.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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17. People around here are willing to help their neighbors.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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18. People on my street do not share the same values.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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19. I can recognize most of the people who live on my street.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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20. I have no influence over what this street is like.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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21. People on this street generally don’t get along with each other.

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Refused/don’t know

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22. If a group of neighborhood children were skipping school and hanging out on a street corner, how likely is it

that your neighbors would do something about it?

Very unlikely Unlikely Neutral Likely Very likely Don’t know/refused

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23. If some children were spray-painting profane graffiti on a local building, how likely is it that people in your

neighborhood would do something about it?

Very unlikely Unlikely Neutral Likely Very likely Don’t know/refused

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24. If a child were showing disrespect to an adult, how likely is it that people in your neighborhood would scold

that child?

Very unlikely Unlikely Neutral Likely Very likely Don’t know/refused

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25. If a well-known neighbor was short of cash to start a business in the area, how likely is it that he or she would

be able to borrow money from people in this neighborhood?

Very unlikely Unlikely Neutral Likely Very likely Don’t know/refused

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26. If there was a fight in front of your house and someone was beaten or threatened, how likely is it that your

neighbors would break it up?

Very unlikely Unlikely Neutral Likely Very likely Don’t know/refused

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27. Suppose that budget cuts meant that the fire station closest to your home was going to be closed by the city.

How likely is it that neighborhood residents would organize to try to do something to keep the fire station open?

Very unlikely Unlikely Neutral Likely Very likely Don’t know/refused

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28. How likely is it that you would choose to move from this neighborhood in the next five years?

Very unlikely Unlikely Neutral Likely Very likely Don’t know/refused

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The next 7 questions relate to problems you may have had with trees damaging the property where you live.

29. Have falling trees damaged the property where you live in the past 5 years?

 yes

 no (skip to question 31)

 don't know (skip to question 31)

30. Did the trees fall as a result of high winds or storms?

 yes

 no

 don't know

31. How concerned are you about trees falling on your home or the property where you live?

Not at all concerned somewhat concerned not really sure somewhat concerned very concerned Refused/don’t know

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32. Have you had trees removed from your property because of concerns about trees falling during storms or high wind?

 yes

 no

 don't own my home

 don't know

33. Would you prefer to have fewer trees on or near your home to help prevent damage from falling trees?

 yes

 no

 don't know

34. If you answered yes to the previous question, which kinds of trees (for example, oak, pine) would you remove?

35. Does the cost of tree removal prevent you from having them taken from your property?

 yes

 no

 don't own my home

• don't know

Lastly, we’d like to get some information about you.

36. What is your age range?

 18-30

 31-45

 46-64

 65+

 refused

37. What is your level of education?

 11^th grad or less

 high school graduate (diploma or GED)

 bachelor’s degree

 advanced or professional degree (master’s, doctorate, law, etc.)

 refused

38. What is your race or ethnicity? Mark one or more.

 Asian

 Black or African American

 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

 White

 Hispanic or Latino

 American Indian or Alaska Native

39. Is your home…?

 owned

 rented

 refused

40. If you own your home, is it owned as “heirs property”? This usually means that you co-own the property with several other family members. Your name is not on the title. The title to the home remains in the name of a deceased relative.

 yes

 no

 don’t know

41. If you have any comments or questions about the survey, please write them below.

Thank you!

Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0596­0237. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 12 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202.720.2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250­9410 or call 800.795.3272 (voice) or 202.720.6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Expires (to be updated).

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