Many organizations are focused on improving neighborhoods, but this involvement is often difficult to quantify. We have not found specific data measuring the involvement of neighborhood associations.  Instead, we will provide information about neighborhood associations (or Internet sites where listings of associations are available) that we have identified at the city level for Dallas, Denton, and Plano, the largest cities in Dallas, Denton, and Collin Counties. 
 

Why is this indicator important?
Neighborhoods are often the lifeblood of the population.  A large portion of a person’s interaction with his or her community will be driven by proximity to neighbors.  Neighborhood associations (sometimes called homeowner associations depending on the makeup of the group) are usually formed to improve or maintain conditions.  People who unite to form an association have the opportunity to voice concerns, vote on issues affecting the appearance, businesses, and events of their neighborhoods, work together to effect change, and increase the neighborhood's stability and political clout.  This in turn fosters a greater sense of community, which promotes social well-being and harmony. 

 How are we doing?

Dallas neighborhoods
Dallas is fortunate to have many distinct neighborhoods, each with its own personality and history.  Many of these have active neighborhood associations.  

The Dallas Public Library's Community Information data base yielded 174 results when searched using the term "neighborhood associations."  The vast majority of the results were listings for specific associations.  (A few results were for other resources related to associations, such as the City of Dallas Web site.)  Each listing includes a description and contact information, and many included individual Web site addresses.

Preservation Dallas, an organization founded in 1972, is "a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of Dallas’ buildings, neighborhoods and other historical, architectural, and cultural resources," according to its Web site.

Its functions include the following:

• public awareness and education
• downtown revitalization
• neighborhood support
• Discover Dallas! historical survey

Through its neighborhood support function, Preservation Dallas assists neighborhoods not only with zoning and other challenges, preservation of significant buildings and sites, and designation of such, but assists them also with revitalization and development, including creating neighborhood associations.

Preservation Dallas' Neighborhood Assistance Program provides the following for groups wishing to form neighborhood associations:

• the Neighborhood Handbook, a book that gives information about forming an association, groups that provide services to neighborhoods, planning tools, and neighborhood projects (free of charge)
• advice about special designations, such as historic and conservation district status
• equipment to design and publish newsletters, brochures, and flyers
• annual workshops for neighborhood representatives and neighborhood service providers

Preservation Dallas provides a list of Dallas neighborhood associations.  There are presently 19 associations listed, most with active Web sites with information such as neighborhood events, local restaurants and businesses, Crime Watch programs, neighborhood history, home tours, play groups, and much more.

Denton neighborhoods

The Denton Neighborhood Alliance is a "consortium of neighborhood associations and interested citizens joined together to pursue goals of common interest," according to its Web site.

The organization provides Web site addresses for 6 neighborhood associations and lists 10 additional associations with contact information.

Plano neighborhoods

 
The City of Plano's Neighborhood Resource Center on the city's Web site has a listing and associated maps of more than 200 registered homeowners' associations, as well as other resources for neighborhood and homeowner associations.

   Download more information about local neighborhood associations