Community Survey through the Windshield

Community Assessment: Bayville, NJ

Abstract

This paper provides a windshield survey of Bayville, NJ, and identifies useful statistics and data helpful in understanding the characteristics of the community as they pertain to community health. The community of Bayville is coastal with many opportunities for outdoors recreation in the summer months, from boating to playing in the parks or fields. It has numerous churches for various religious affiliations, which offer organizations and programs for members and non-members alike. The community is below the national average in terms of physicians to residents, but health care access is available in the surrounding greater township. The average worker commutes thirty minutes to work each day, which can add to the strain of labor. Additionally, unemployment in Bayville has risen year over year, and this is not a negligible threat to the mental and physical health of the community, as there is a direct link between the socio-economic health of a community and its mental and physical health.

Keywords: windshield survey, Bayville, NJ, community health

Introduction

Bayville is a quaint, picturesque community on the coast of New Jersey. It is approximately 50 miles east of Philadelphia and 50 miles south of Long Island. It is an unincorporated community in Berkeley Township of Ocean County, and while it is a small community with just shy of 7,000 people, up until recent times it could have been considered affluent, as the median income was over $100,000 (US Census Bureau, 2020). Since COVID, however, those numbers have declined somewhat and the current median household income stands at $78,000, which is still higher than the national average (Best Places, 2021). The percentage of people in Bayville who live in poverty is under 4%. 96% of the population has a high school diploma or higher level of education, and less than 3% of the population lives without health insurance. The median home value is over $500,000, which is well north of anything comparable in other parts of the nation in which a community is situated near an industrial center (Currie et al., 2017). Because of the community’s relative affluence, there is little to no urban sprawl, which makes it especially attractive from an aesthetic point of view (Terando et al., 2017).

Assessment

Physical Environment

The physical environment is very green and coastal. The immediate community has at least one park but greater Berkeley Township has several. Because the community is coastal, it has a great deal of physical and natural beauty and appeal as well as excellent water access. However, Bayville has a water quality index of just 1/100, which is the worst it can be (the national average is 55). This low water quality is due to the measure of its watershed quality, which according to the EPA directly correlates with drinking water quality (Best Places, 2021). The air quality is good with an index of 77/100, well above the national average of 58 (Best Places, 2021). Housing is excellent with more than 2,500 housing units; sewage and waste disposal are properly functioning. Animal control is provided and the community is relatively pest-free. Still, many workers in Bayville commute more than 30 minutes a day for work, and commuting can take a toll on the health of the worker (Kunn-Nelen, 2017).

The windshield survey reveals that people are active in the community; during summer months people can be seen abundantly in the coastal region enjoying the outdoors. The parks are frequently visited by families, and games are played on fields. People walk dogs and ride bikes. The community does not appear to be distressed by litter or rundown or neglected. This may be why crime is not rampant, as broken windows theory posits that if a neighborhood neglects upkeep it invites the criminal element (O’Brien et al., 2019).

Education

The community has a public school for locals as well as several private schools, which fits the affluent nature of the community. Literacy rates are quite high, as the graduation rate is stellar and the population nearly unanimously consists of individuals with at least a high school education. Numerous churches offer places of worship along with educational courses and programs for those interested.

The windshield survey reveals that these schools are in a good condition and appear to be kept up well. The grounds are maintained and the exterior of the buildings do not appear dilapidated or in need of repair. The schools for primary learners have playgrounds and fields for play.

Recreation

Opportunities for recreation are not lacking in Bayville. There are numerous arts and entertainment outlets along with martial arts studios and other exercise venues, dance studios, music halls and theaters. It has several clubs and organizations, including Elks Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Anchor House. It also has its own historical society (Bayville Town Guide, 2021). There are amusement parks, golf courses, soccer fields, sailing schools, and baseball fields as well. The city has a library and recreation center. Religious denominations consist of Catholic, Baptist, Jehovah’s Witness, and other non-denominational churches or affiliations.

The windshield survey did not reveal many empty parking lots, which indicates that people in the community do attend religious services or recreational activities. The community appears to be engaged with its local organizations by participating in what they have to offer.

Economics

There are more than 700 businesses in Bayville to serve the community and provide jobs for the citizens. The majority of jobs are in retail, health care and construction, which all together comprise nearly 40% of the employment in Bayville (Best Places, 2021). However, in recent years unemployment has risen in Bayville at currently stands at 9.6%, which is higher than the national average of 6% (Best Places, 2021). The recent lockdowns in New Jersey have had their impact on Bayville, and some small businesses have closed and not reopened. Some retail shops are still seeking tenants as there are signs of vacancy throughout the community.

Safety and Transportation

Bayville’s violent crime statistics are lower than the national average (22.7%) by a single percentage point; its property crime (26.2%) is 9 points lower than the national average (Best Places, 2021). This data suggest Bayville is at least as safe if not safer than the average US community. It offers public transportation and its roads and highways are not in a considerable state of disrepair. Transportation is available for intercity and intracity travel. The roads are not too crowded or congested, which means traffic flows relatively easily throughout the day.

Communication

The community has local newspapers, telephone, radio, television, and public service announcements. Hotlines are available for emergency need. Numerous public services are available for health, fire, medical, and other needs. As in most other communities, cell phone and Internet usage is the primary means of communication in Bayville. A windshield survey of people gathered shows that like in most other towns people use their cell phones frequently when out in public.

Health and Social Services

Bayville is home to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency office of Ocean County, NJ (Ocean County Needs Assessment, 2021). The community of Bayville has fewer physicians per citizen than the national average, but this may be because Bayville is a small community in a larger Township. The majority of physicians are found in the greater township, which is still within driving distance for those in need of health access.

Politics and Government

Bayville is politically represented by the Republican Party as the majority of voters consistently vote Republican in this community. Sources of revenue for the government come from property and sales tax. Bayville is considered moderately conservative in terms of political outlook (Best Places, 2021). People display signs in their yards to show their political support for various candidates even after elections have ended.

Factors that May Positively or Negatively Influence the Health of the Community

Positive Influence

Considering that Bayville is a pleasantly located community on the coast, it has convenient access to the Atlantic, and sailing vessels can be seen in abundance in the summer months. The docks are never empty, and there is a great deal of leisure to be had in the community. This suggests that people are not hard pressed for access to recreation in the natural world. Parks and green spaces proliferate, and part of the charm of the community is its natural beauty and coastal region. All of this has a positive effect on mental and physical health (Engemann et al., 2019).

The community is not crime-ridden and property crime is below the national average, which gives people a sense of security and peace. In low-income communities, crime can be a strain on mental health, which, according to strain theory, begets more crime (O’Brien et al., 2019). There is no evidence through the windshield of Bayville being neglected or in danger of a criminal element in any of its neighborhoods. However, this may change if unemployment stays high.

Negative Influence

Factors that may have a negative influence on the community include the rise in unemployment since the lockdowns of 2020. The community still has not recovered from the strict shuttering of businesses, and school closings may have also affected the mental health of young and old (Hoffman & Miller, 2020). This has hurt the standard of living and has lowered the household median income year over year (Best Places, 2021). This is not the kind of trend that a community like Bayville likes to see, and it may lead to higher turnover in the community if more families begin leaving for communities that offer better job opportunities. Turnover is indicative of instability in the social and economic sense and can further destabilize a community, leading to less safe neighbors, which in turn impact mental and physical health (Rogerson, 2019). So far, the turnover is not substantial but there do appear to be more homes for sale than in recent years. Additionally, the lack of access to health care in the immediate community serves as a negative influence, as it means residents must drive to the greater township for their health needs. While this commute is not too great, it does put pressure on people in terms of serving as a time and space barrier to health care.