Windshield and Walking Tour

Team Members: Jessica Pollard, Evan Gray, Adrienne Cherry, Lyndsey Henderson, Lindsey
Arthur

Days/Times observations were completed (note the team members for each visit):
9/10/14 around 5pm
9/21/14 Jessica, Evan, Adrienne, Lyndsey 2pm
9/21/14 Lindsey 4pm

General information:
1. Name of Neighborhood: Mineral Springs

2. Congressional District: 12
3. Location (zip code): 27105
4.

Boundaries:
North: Oak Summit Rd./Old Rural Hall Rd.
South: Akron Dr.
East: Old Rural Hall Rd./ Motor Rd.
West: Patterson Ave.

Neighborhood design for physical activity:

5. Sidewalks:
a) There are no sidewalks throughout the neighborhood.
The only sidewalks are right in front of the middle school
and elementary school. The sidewalks are not that wellmaintained. They have deep cracks and uneven
transitions to the pavement.
6. Bike trails or routes:
a) There are no biking routes throughout the community.
There are signs that indicated bike routes, but there are no special lanes for bicycles.
The only place to safely ride a bike would be on the track at the middle school or at the
park at the elementary school. Another location to ride a bike would be at the Jerry King
Park. However, the track was not easily accessible because it had a sign posted that
individuals needed written permission to use the facility.
7. ADA Accessibility:
a. The routes are mostly flat and did not have any large dips or inclines.
b. The routes are smooth with no large level changes, breaks or gaps.
c. There are a few ramps at the middle school and there are adequate curb cuts on
the sidewalks.
d. The routes are free of other major impassable features (e.g., mailboxes, light
poles, trees).
**These routes are referring to the ones on the campus of the schools. All of the
other routes are cracked and uneven, as can be seen in the photo.
8. Neighborhood parks (public or private):
a) Jerry King Park
4700 Ogburn Ave Winston Salem, NC 27105
This park is available for adoption through the Winston Salem Recreation and Parks Adopt a
Park Program. The park was a short, walk-able distance from the neighborhood. It has a
very short walking/biking route within it that is unpaved and a swimming pool that you have
to pay fees to use. The park was gated and locked when we went to view it. We could not
get into the bathrooms or pool area because it was locked to see if the facilities at the park
were accessible by those with disabilities. There was also no parking located at the site.
9. Opportunities for physical activity, indoors and/or outdoors:
a) There is an outdoor swimming pool but
it was locked. You also have to pay fees
to attend the pool and be a member.
There are no basketball courts, no
health/wellness/recreation centers or
golf courses, and no nature, skateboard,
pocket, pet, water, or garden parks.

There is a baseball/softball field and a tennis court at the Mineral Springs Middle School.
There are also small playgrounds with limited play structures at the Mineral Springs
Elementary School and the Oak Summit Community Church. The pool might be used by
residents, but it was closed due to being out of season when we went. The tennis court
looked unused and un-kept. The paved courts are cracked with grass and weeds growing
through the cracks. The fields look like they are somewhat utilized. We did not
personally witness any residents using any of these facilities while we were on the
Windshield Tour.
b) None of the facilities are publicly available. You have to have written permission to
use any of the fields, courts, or playgrounds at the schools and the pool is for members.
All of the facilities are accessible by foot, bike, or transportation. However, parking is
limited at each place and there are no sidewalks, routes, paths, or trails for residents to
use to get these locations. They have to walk on a narrow shoulder of the road either in
the grass or in the gravel.
10. The neighborhood has destinations within easy walking distance (1/2 mile) from homes or
public transportation stops such as:
a) Jerry King Park
~.4 miles away from the center of the community
b) A playground (Mineral Springs Elementary School)
Located at the center of the community
c) Churches
Gethsemane Hope Baptist Church
~.5 miles from the center of the community
Greater Damascus Baptist Church
~.4 miles from the center of the community
d) Commercial Enterprises
Fleet Truck and Trailer Service
~.5 miles from the center of the community
Bryants Truck & Trailer Repair Service
~.45 miles from the center of the community
e) Grocery/food services
Mata Grocery
~.5 miles from the center of the community
Liberty Street Grocery
~.5 miles from the center of the community
JB Food Mart
~.5 miles from the center of the community
f) Community Organizations
Winston Salem Fire Station #9
~.4 miles from the center of the community
g) Healthcare Providers
Bulldog Health Center at Mineral Springs Middle School
Located at the center of the community

Other neighborhood assets:

11. Schools, public and private: Locations of all schools, public and
private.
Names and locations:
a) Mineral Springs Elementary School
4527 Ogburn Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
b) Mineral Springs Middle School
4559 Ogburn Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27105

Both the elementary school and middle school are centrally

located in the community. There are no crosswalks within the
neighborhood or at the schools. There are no safe routes to
school. The only sidewalks located in the area are directly in front
of both of the schools. This does not provide children a safe way to get to school. They
are required to walk on the narrow shoulder of the road or in the middle of the road.

12. Churches, clubs, and membership organizations:

Names and locations:
a) Oak Summit Community Church
284 Oak Summit Rd., WinstonSalem, NC 27105
b) Crestwood Baptist Church
530 Motor Rd., Winston-Salem, NC
27105
c) Gethsemane Hope Baptist Church
4363 Carrie Ave., Winston-Salem,
NC 27105
d) New Hope Baptist Church
4911 Old Rural Hall Rd., WinstonSalem, NC 27105
e) Burning Flame Christian Church
4935 Old Rural Hall Rd., WinstonSalem, NC 27105
f) Greater Damascus Baptist Church
5009 Voss St., Winston-Salem, NC
27105
g) Pleasant View Baptist Church
1206 Pleasant View Dr., WinstonSalem, NC 27105

13.

Places where people like to linger or hang out:

People seem to hang out in the middle of road or at each others houses on the
porches. The younger children and teenagers play in the road and the parents and older
adults seem to hang out at the houses. The children/teenagers ride bikes and
skateboard with each other. We saw a few younger children playing catch with a ball
too.

14.

Community organizations, associations, and health

and social service agencies:
Names, locations, types of services offered.
a) Winston Salem Fire Station #9 (Single-Bay
Fire Station; Only 4 Personnel/Shift)
4685 Ogburn Ave, Winston-Salem,
NC 27105
b) Step By Step Daycare (Child Care Services)
4608 Old Rural Hall Rd, Winston-Salem, NC
27105
c) Victorias Academy (Child Development
Center)
4647 Old Rural Hall Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105

15.

Health care providers:

Names, locations, type of provider.
a) Eric J. Sadler, DDS and David Plummer, DDS
3801 Indiana Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Dr. Sadler and Dr. Plummer provide modern day dental services. We plan on
using Dr. Sadler as a key informant when we conduct our interviews.
b) Bulldog Health Center at Mineral Springs Middle School
4559 Ogburn Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Bulldog Health Center provides basic health care
services to students of Mineral Springs
Elementary School and Mineral Springs Middle
School as well as off-site referrals to local health
care providers.

16. Block by block description of types of housing

The first half of the neighborhood on Ogburn Ave.,
before the elementary and middle schools, is a
rougher section. The houses are mostly single home
options, but also have a few multi-family duplexes. They
look dilapidated. The yards are not maintained and there
is litter throughout the community. Majority of the yards
have No Trespassing signs or the signs are posted on

the doors of the homes. The houses after the schools, off of Motor Rd., have nicer
options. The housing options are mostly single home options too. The
houses looked older, but more maintained than the section before the
schools. There are also a couple of complexes at the very end of the
road. There are street lights, but many did not work and they are spaced
out pretty far. There are a lot of bus stop signs posted very close in
proximity to each other, but they are easily missed. The signs are on a
post and not very visible.

17. Food stores:

Corner stores/convenience stores
Location:
a) Mata Grocery (Corner/Convenience Store & Gas Station)
4838 Old Rural Hall Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
b) Liberty Street Grocery (Corner/Convenience Store)
4820 Old Rural Hall Rd Winston Salem
NC 27105
c) JB Food Mart (Corner/Convenience
Store)
4815 Old Rural Hall Rd, WinstonSalem, NC 27105
d) Hills Lexington BBQ (Restaurant)
4005 N Patterson Ave, WinstonSalem, NC 27105
Availability of fresh vegetables and fruits of
acceptable quality:
Fresh produce was limited at these corner
stores that also served as a grocery store.
Bananas were offered, but the quantity was
limited. The same was true for the apples that
are offered. Vegetables are frozen and in bags.
The Exxon station (Mata) at the corner of
Motor Rd. and Old Rural Hall carries a very
limited variety of produce. There are 3-4 heads
of lettuce, and some assorted fruits in a
refrigerator by the soft drinks. Though the options were limited, the produce did not
appear to be old.
18. Farmers markets:
We did not see any farmers markets.
19. Commercial enterprises:
Types, location, and ethnicity of management:

a) Wall-Turner Co. Heating and Air (Heating and Air)

150 Kapp St, Winston Salem, NC 27105
b) Trailer Source (Trailer Purchase/Rental)
4060 Patterson Ave Winston Salem, NC 27105
c) Hometown Auto and Credit (Used Car
Dealership)
4020 N Patterson Ave Winston Salem, NC
27105
d) Triad Custom Builders (Custom Home Builder)
4024 Patterson Ave, Winston-Salem, NC
27105
e) Parrish Tire (Tire Company)
5100 Indiana Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27106
f) Fleet Truck & Trailer Service (Truck Repair
Shop)
235 Kapp St, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
g) Bryants Truck & Trailer Repair Service (Truck & Trailer Repair)
310 Kapp St, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
h) Pineview Self Service (Gas/Convenience Store)
5137 Old Rural Hall Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
20.

Historical sites, sites of particular social significance:

We did not see any historical sites within the community. We are hoping to gain more
insight of historical sites and sites of particular social significance when we conduct
interviews with community members.

Safety

21. There are no sidewalks (other than directly in front of the schools) and they are cracked
and damaged. The neighborhood is also poorly lit. The street lights are spaced far apart and
majority of them do not appear to work. The parking lots (in front of the schools) have street
lights that worked. The park does not have any source of light for nighttime that was apparent.
22. Most drivers seem to follow the speed limit and a few slowed down/moved over so they
would not hit us when we were walking around. There are not a lot of speed limit signs posted
around the community to make drivers aware. There is not a safe space to walk or bike.
Commuters have to do this in the middle of the road or in the grass so that they do not get hit
by a car. The people we encountered did not seem to feel unsafe or threatened by traffic
hazards when walking in the middle or sides of the road.
23. We did not see any law enforcement officers at the parks or around in the community in
general.

24. East of the middle school on Motor Rd. there are a few abandoned homes. Some of the
homes that appeared to be abandoned were for sale. There are abandoned store fronts and
restaurants on both sides of Old Rural Hall Rd. There is a large abandoned field on Old Rural
Hall Rd. near Oak Summit Rd.
25. The map shows that there is a stream, Leak Fork, which is on the western outskirts and
flows through/nearby various places in the Mineral Springs Community. US-52 highway (John
Gold Memorial Expressway) is also located close in proximity to the community just west of
Patterson Ave.