It was first organized as a “residents” association in the 1960’s, about two years after the first black family moved into the neighborhood on Roosevelt north of 21st St. The purpose of the group was “to stabilize, preserve, and improve the neighborhood.” Neighbors promoted the value of their community to real estate agents and asked them to show homes for sale to people of both races. and the fi
rst newsletter was printed in 1966. Members worked together to prevent “white flight” and secure peaceful integration with racial balance in Northeast Heights. They also addressed zoning issues, a pedestrian light at 21st & Yale, and park land, as well as planning social events, sports activities, and a 4th of July parade. By 1975 with no major concerns the residents disbanded the association. It wasn’t until 1989 that some Northeast Heights residents got together again over a troubling community concern—rising crime and formation of gangs. The first newsletter of the new Northeast Heights Neighborhood Association announced a meeting on July 12, 1990 at University United Methodist Church, 21st & Yale. President Tara Schrag stated the primary mission of NEHNA for “our neighborhood to be a happy, crime-free place to live” and invited everyone to “come out to get to know your neighbors better.”
Over the past 22 years, active NEHNA members goals similar to those of the 60’s & 70’s. 1) Safety: lobbied for our stop signs on 25th St., painted over gang graffiti, encouraged Neighborhood Watch, and actively communicated with our Community Policing Officers. 2) Community Unity: organized picnics and parties, worked side by side in cleanups, cooperated in activities with University UM Church and with WSU fraternities & sororities, and engaged in group problem solving on issues affecting us all. 3) Property Values: communicated with the Office of Central Inspection to remove junk vehicles, get weeds mowed, and dumping cleaned up, and with Public Works to improve the drainage of the creek and prevent flooding in yards. 4) Education: attended site council meetings and volunteered in our neighborhood schools, held job fairs for our youth, and invited school board candidates to speak to us. 5) Racial Balance: is represented within our board, our block captains, and our membership. 6) Desirable Residential Zoning: spoke as a group to prevent changes in zoning and undesirable development in or near our neighborhood, including a skating rink, a day spa, a boys’ home, a night club, a day reporting center for parolees. Sometimes we did not succeed in preventing the change, but we still had input in how it was developed. 7) Beautification & Park Development: We succeeded in stopping a modular home factory on Grove Park land and now have a very special playground and a bike path there instead. 8) Neighborhood Interest & Activities: plan programs which provide info on issues affecting our neighbors and our community, along with the annual clean-up, and social events. As recently as the spring of 2009, we were experiencing a rash of burglaries in NEHNA. Our March newsletter and meeting were devoted to focusing neighbors’ attention on this concern. With help from our Community Policing Officer and advice from WPD crime experts, we stopped the break-ins. Currently, few crimes have been reported in our neighborhood, but there is a danger in complacency. Our goal is to reenergize our association, get neighbors from all streets and of all ages involved, and prevent any backsliding. We hope you will join us as we move forward into the future.
