Mineral Springs: Community Health Assessment

Evan Gray
Lindsey Arthur
Adrienne Cherry
Lyndsey Henderson

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

HEA 603

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:
1.
The routes are mostly flat and did not have any large dips or
inclines.
2.
The routes are smooth with no large level changes, breaks or
gaps.
3.
There are a few ramps at the middle school and there are
adequate curb cuts on the sidewalks.
4.
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.,
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
b) Crestwood Baptist Church
530 Motor Rd., WinstonSalem, NC 27105
c) Gethsemane Hope Baptist
Church
4363 Carrie Ave., WinstonSalem, NC 27105

New Hope Baptist Church

4911 Old Rural Hall Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27105
e) Burning Flame Christian
Church
4935 Old Rural Hall Rd.,
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
f) Greater Damascus Baptist
Church
5009 Voss St., Winston-Salem,
NC 27105
g) Pleasant View Baptist Church
1206 Pleasant View Dr., Winston-Salem, NC 27105
d)

13.

14.

15.

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.
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
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.

17.

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.

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,
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
d) Hills Lexington BBQ
(Restaurant)
4005 N Patterson Ave,
Winston-Salem, 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.

Sociodemographic Profile
Race and Ethnicity:
1. ZCTA 27105 is predominantly Black or African American with 62.0% of the
population representing this category and has a higher amount when
compared to the 26% in Forsyth County, 32.5% in Guildford County, and the
21.5% in North Carolina.
2. Forsyth County, Guilford County, and North Carolina have majority of their
population being white (62.3%, 57.0%, and 68.5%, respectively), while ZCTA
27105 has a lower count (23.6%).
3. ZCTA 27105 also has a higher amount of Hispanics or Latinos (16.1%) than
the county it is located in (11.9%), its neighboring county (7.1%), and North
Carolina (8.4%).
Age:
1. ZCTA 27105 has a younger median age (34.2 years old) when compared to
Forsyth County (37.3 years old), Guildford County (36.4 years old), and North
Carolina (37.4 years old).
2. Majority of the population that makes up ZCTA 27105 falls between the age
groups of 25-44 years old (24.8%) and 45-64 years old (24.9%).
Education:
1. ZCTA 27105 represents a lower overall education level than Forsyth County
as a whole.
2. In ZCTA 27105, 9.6% have a bachelors degree and only 3.6% have a
graduate or professional degree compared to the 20.9% in Forsyth County

who have attained a bachelors degree and 10.7% who have graduate or
professional degrees.
3. The number of bachelors degrees and graduate or professional degrees is
also higher in Guilford County (22.3%, 10.7%) and North Carolina as a whole
(17.8%, 9.0%).
Income/Poverty Status:
1. ZCTA 27105 could be considered lower economic class with an annual
median household income of $31,402; this is more than 30% less than the
next lowest area of comparison, Forsyth County ($45,809).
2. Married couples in 27105 have higher poverty rates than Forsyth and Guilford
counties, as well as the state of North Carolina as a whole.
3. The percent of households within 27105 with an income of less than $14,999
is close to double that of the other areas of comparison.
Home Ownership, Rentership, Density, and Home Values:
1. In comparing owner occupied units and renter occupied units, ZCTA 27105s
owner occupied units is significantly less compared to Forsyth County, as well
as Guilford County and North Carolina.
2. The average household size for ZCTA 27105S renters (2.76) is considerably
larger than those of the counties and state.
3. The median value of owner occupied units in ZCTA 27105 that is estimated at
$97,000 in comparison to Forsyth County there is a $54,700 difference in the
median value of owner occupied units.

Employment and Disability:

1. The percent of the civilian labor force that is unemployed is significantly
higher in ZCTA 27105 than the percent of the same category in Forsyth
County, Guilford County, and in North Carolina.
2. The percent of the population with disabilities in ZCTA 27105 is slightly higher
when compared to Forsyth and Guilford counties, but is lower than the state
percent in all age groups.

Health Profile

Leading Causes of Mortality:

1. Diabetes mellitus was ranked the 7th leading cause of death in Forsyth County
and North Carolina- the same rank as the United States- but 9 th in Guilford
County.
2. Motor vehicles injuries are ranked as a leading cause of death in North
Carolina but not in either county.
3. Septicemia is a problem in Forsyth and Guilford counties but not in North
Carolina.
Birth Statistics:
1. Forsyth County has higher average rates of low birth weight and preterm
birth than Guilford and North Carolina and the rates are consistent across all
three racial backgrounds (White, Black or African American, Hispanic or
Latino).
2. African Americans experienced rates of low birth weight close to two times
higher than that of Whites or Hispanics in all three locations (Forsyth County,
Guildford County, and North Carolina).
3. Whites and Hispanics in Forsyth County also had higher rates of both low
birth weight and preterm birth than Guilford County or North Carolina.
Reproductive and Sexual Health:

1. The rate of new HIV infection diagnoses is higher than both North Carolina
and the United States in ZCTA 27105.
2. From 2007-2011, there were 21.7 new HIV infection diagnoses per 100,000
people in Forsyth County, which is higher in comparison to North Carolinas
rate (17.7) and the United States rate (19.4).
Access to Health Services:
1. Of the 19% in Forsyth County, Guildford County, and North Carolina that are
uninsured, 23% (N=48,923; 70,701; 1359495) are adults and 8% (N=7,478;
9,376; 186847) are children.
2. In 2014, 13% (N=2,491) of the population of Forsyth County was unable to
see a doctor due to cost purposes compared to 14% (N=3,511) in Guildford
County and 17% in North Carolina (N=90,900).
3. As of 2014, Forsyth County has a lower ratio of patients to primary care
physicians-997:1 (356 PCPS, rate of 100)-than Guildford County-1,342:1 (369
PCPS, rate of 75) and North Carolina-1,462:1 (6,605 PCPs, rate of 68).
Environmental Quality:
1. The percent of the population in Forsyth County that is potentially exposed to
water exceeding a violation limit is lower-0% (N=229)-than Guildford County
and North Carolina-2% (N=6,116; 179,778 respectively).
2. Forsyth County has a 18% of the population suffering from food insecurity in
comparison to 20% in Guildford County and 19% in North Carolina.
3. As of 2014, 81% of the population in Forsyth County has access to places for
physical activity and 22% of adults (20 years or older) who are physically
inactive. Both aspects are lower than Guildford County- 88% with access and
24% physically inactive. North Carolina has a lower percent with access to
places for physical activity-66%-, but the highest percent who are physically
inactive-25%- across all three locations.
Injury and Crime:
1. As of 2014, Forsyth County has 1,004 injury-related deaths (rate of 59), which
is comparable to the 1,426 deaths in Guildford County (rate of 60). Both
counties had a lower amount than North Carolina, which has 30,293 deaths
(rate of 65).
2. The annual crime rate in Forsyth County is higher-564- than both Guildford
County-505- and North Carolina-372.
Tobacco Use:
1. Forsyth County has a higher amount of adult smokers-19.2%- than Guildford
County-17.8%.
2. According to the North Carolina State Center of Health Statistics, about
13,000 North Carolinians died from smoking related causes, and North
Carolina is ranked number 14 for smoking prevalence in the United States.

3. The Smokers by Education in North Carolina graph indicates that adults who
did not graduate from high school are almost three times as more likely to
smoke than a college graduate.

Ethnographic Interviews

Economic Opportunity

The lack of economic growth is a main concern for the community.

There is an absence of emerging and existing business.
Mineral Springs is a low income area.
Many people do not have jobs- most get by doing whatever they can do
through unofficial and under the table jobs. Those who are employed often
have multiple jobs and work outside of the community.
Poverty is a concern in the community.
Employment rates are low .
Interviewee believes that bringing in business would provide resources and
revenue within the community.

Community Support

People of and within Mineral Springs are very passionate about their
community.

The strong sense of community is a strength in Mineral Springs.

Families are close and happy with what they have despite of low
socioeconomic status.

Healthcare Options

The lack of healthcare and healthcare facilities is a concern.

Residents have nowhere to go regarding health services. Therefore 911/ the
Fire Department takes care of most health problems and emergencies.
Diabetes and obesity are a concern in the community.
Bulldog Health Center is a great resource. It is a free option yet only available
to children at the elementary and middle school. This asset is not being taken
advantage of by parents of school children.

Safety Concerns

Petty crime is the only mentioned offense in the community.

The condition of the roads and sidewalks is an issue in need of attention in
Mineral Springs.
Roads were designed to be narrow for economic and practical travel
purposes. One time appropriate, the designs of the roads are no longer
complementary for Mineral Springs.
Roads hinder the work of firemen.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The school is hope for the community.

Churches have a large role in Mineral Springs. They are supportive of the
schools.
Mineral Springs is not seen as a priority to the city.
Mineral Springs is a good neighborhood according to community members,
despite its conditions and concerns surrounding it.

Need for Lifestyle Education

Pastor believes that real estate in community is valuable and that business
should take advantage of Mineral Springs location.
Collaboration and outreach would address factors that contribute to ones
quality of life such as: spirituality, financial assistance, food, clothing, and
shelter.
As described by the principal of Mineral Springs Elementary School parents
should be made aware/educated that they have a large influence on their
childs life and that their actions can impact the childs development.