2013 Weld County
Community Health
Survey
5/26/2015
Resident Write-in Comments Summary
The 2013 Weld Community Health Survey asked residents to answer
the question, “What suggestions do you have on ways to make Weld
County a healthier place to live, work, and play?” Over 550 residents
wrote over 900 comments that are summarized here.
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Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, 1555 N. 17 Ave., Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldhealth.org
2013 Weld County Community Health Survey
2013 Weld County Community
Health Survey
RESIDENT WRITE-IN COMMENTS SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
The 2013 Weld Community Health Survey asked residents to answer the question, “What suggestions do you
have on ways to make Weld County a healthier place to live, work, and play?” Over 550 out of 2,082 residents
wrote over 900 comments that were coded first into 22 main topical themes and then into over 100 subthemes. Comments were coded by one trained analyst and then checked by a second trained analyst. The
analysts read through all comments and identified a list of recurring themes. Themes could be general or
specific and arranged hierarchically. The themes and sub-themes refer to content, attitude, or some other
aspect of the comment. Comments could be coded into more than one theme or sub-theme. The counts and
list of main themes can be found in Figure 1 below.
FIGURE 1
Weld County Resident Written Comment by Theme (n=926)
160
Number of Comments
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
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Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, 1555 N. 17 Ave., Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldhealth.org
2013 Weld County Community Health Survey
TOP THEMES
Countywide, four topic areas accounted for most of the comments. They were:
1.
Trail and Road Improvements or Safety (152)
2.
Recreation (97)
3.
Fracking/Oil & Gas (75)
4.
Environmental Safety (74)
The trail and road improvement comments included the following sub-themes: biking and walking, trails
and lanes, road repair or improvement, distracted/DUI driving, and industry traffic. The recreation
comments included the following sub-themes: access to outdoor recreation, youth
activity/events/centers, cost, dog parks, and hunting or fishing. The fracking, oil & gas comments
included the following sub-themes: ban or limit, regulate or monitor, and proximity to schools or
residences. The environmental safety comments included the following sub-themes: mosquito and fly
control, air quality and pollution, and drinking water.
TOP SUB-THEMES
Once the comments were categorized into main themes, they were coded into sub-themes. The top subthemes, according to their frequency of mention (counts in parentheses), are listed below:
•
Biking/Walking on Trails or Lanes (104)
•
Weld Compliments (42)
•
Ban/Limit Fracking/Oil & Gas (39)
•
Mosquito/Fly Control (37)
•
Access to Outdoor Recreation (30)
•
Housing Appearance/Trash/Weeds (28)
•
Road Repair/Improvement (24)
•
Gangs & Law Enforcement (23)
•
Youth Activity/Events/Centers (22)
•
Regulate/Monitor Fracking/Oil & Gas (22)
Three of the sub-themes were related to active living and improving physical activity (biking/walking on
trails or lanes, access to outdoor recreation, and youth activity/events/centers). Three sub-themes were
related to the built environment (biking/walking on trails or lanes, housing appearance/trash/weeds, and
road repair/improvement). Two sub-themes were related to oil and gas development.
The majority of comments pertaining to the top sub-theme expressed the desire to have more parks,
trails, and paths for walking, biking, and walking dogs. Over 90 of the 104 comments related directly to
increasing the amount of infrastructure for walking and biking. The sub-theme of complimentary
comments about Weld County is discussed in more detail on pages 8 to 9.
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Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, 1555 N. 17 Ave., Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldhealth.org
2013 Weld County Community Health Survey
REGIONAL THEMES
Themes were also analyzed by four geographic sub-areas of the county (see Figure 2). These four areas
were identified because they represent the geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity of Weld
County. Three areas (North, Southwest, and Southeast) roughly correspond to political boundaries of the
county’s elected officials. The fourth area corresponds to the municipality boundaries of Greeley and
Evans. The North region included Windsor, Eaton, Ault, and other communities to the north; the
Southwest Region included Firestone, Frederick, Johnstown, Mead, Milliken, Platteville, and more; the
Southeast region included Dacono, Erie, Ft. Lupton, Kersey, La Salle, and more; and the Central Region
included Greeley and Evans.
FIGURE 2
Regional themes were reported here if there were
three or more comments in a category. Other
comments and complimentary comments were not
analyzed by region and are not reported here.
North Region
There were 162 comments coded into 14 main themes from the North Region (see Figure 3). The three
top themes in order of frequency of mention were: trail or road improvements or safety; fracking, oil and
gas; and environmental safety. Most of the trail or road improvement comments pertained to increasing
trails, bike, and walk paths. Most of the fracking and oil and gas-related comments pertained to banning
or limiting the industry. Most of the environmental safety related comments from North residents
pertained to air and water quality concerns directly related to the oil and gas industry. There were also
several comments about continuing or increasing mosquito control.
NORTH REGION
TOP THEMES
“Better trails and lighting on streets. Pave
the Great Western bike trail to
Severance, but have dirt on the side for
runners.”
1
Trail/Road Improvements
2
Fracking/Oil & Gas
North Resident Comment
3
Environmental Safety
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Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, 1555 N. 17 Ave., Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldhealth.org
2013 Weld County Community Health Survey
FIGURE 3
“Regularly test for pollutants
so they are detected before
they become a health
hazard, especially in air and
water ways.”
North Region Resident Written Comments by Theme (n=162)
Percent of Comments
25%
20%
15%
North Resident Comment
10%
“Weld County needs to be
more concerned about
effects of the oil industry –
close drilling to homes,
impacts on road conditions,
crumbling roads, and effects
to air conditions.”
5%
0%
North Resident Comment
Several residents also commented on health care. Residents commenting on health care spoke about
assuring accessible and affordable care, Obamacare, and improving services for behavioral health and
reproductive health. A couple of residents made positive comments about the long-time Greeley-based
hospital system.
Southwest Region
There were 129 comments coded into 14 main themes from the
SOUTHWEST REGION
Southwest Region (see Figure 4). The three top themes in order of
TOP THEMES
frequency of mention were: trail or road improvements or safety;
1 Trail/Road Improvements
recreation; and fracking, oil and gas. Almost all the comments
pertaining to trail or road improvements were about increasing and
2 Recreation
improving trails, bike or walk paths. A few comments pertained to
3 Fracking/Oil & Gas
concerns about traffic safety. Southwest residents expressed a desire to
increase indoor recreation options especially in the Johnstown area.
They also suggested having more recreation options for youth. Most of the fracking and oil and gasrelated comments pertained to banning or limiting the industry.
“Bike paths, walk ways,
sidewalks - Weld County has
islands of developed home
communities but nothing that
connects them except county
roads.”
Several Southwest Region residents also commented on food
access and healthy food. Residents expressed the desire either to
have more farmer’s markets or to have more markets and grocery
stores located close by.
Southwest Resident Comment
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Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, 1555 N. 17 Ave., Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldhealth.org
2013 Weld County Community Health Survey
FIGURE 4
Southwest Resident Comment
“Get a handle on all the
oil and gas drilling and
the many trucks –
traffic and pollution.”
Southwest Region Resident Written Comments by Theme (n=129)
25%
Percent of Comments
“During winter, have
more indoor free play
places for children.”
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Southwest Resident Comment
Southeast Region
There were 155 comments coded into 17 main themes from the Southeast Region (see Figure 5). The
three top themes in order of frequency of mention were: trail or road improvements or safety;
environmental safety; and recreation. Similar to the Southwest Region, almost all Southeast resident
comments pertaining to trail or road improvements were about
increasing and improving trails, bike or walk paths. The remaining
SOUTHEAST REGION
comments pertained to making road improvements, especially around
TOP THREE THEMES
paving more dirt roads to reduce dust. Most of the environmental
1 Trail/Road Improvements
safety related comments from Southeast residents were about
mosquito and fly control. The most frequently mentioned theme for
2 Environmental Safety
Southeast residents pertaining to recreation was the desire to have
3 Recreation
more outdoor parks, green areas, and play space.
Residents in the Southeast also made quite a few comments about politics and government and the
fracking and oil and gas industry. Some of the political-oriented comments pertained to a countywide
ballot issue that was being voted on during the time the survey was being conducted. Most of the
fracking and oil and gas-related comments pertained to banning or limiting the industry.
“Provide wider bike lanes
on two lane roads.
Would improve safety
and encourage more
bicyclists.”
“Cut down the number of
mosquitoes – was
infected by West Nile
Virus and sick for two
months.”
Southeast Resident Comment
Southeast Resident Comment
“We need more public
areas for play or
recreation.”
Southeast Resident Comment
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Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, 1555 N. 17 Ave., Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldhealth.org
2013 Weld County Community Health Survey
FIGURE 5
Southeast Region Resident Written Comments by Theme (n=155)
Percent of Comments
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Greeley/Evans Region
There were 379 comments coded into 19 main themes from the Greeley/Evans Region (see Figure 6). The
three top themes in order of frequency of mention were: trail or road improvements or safety; recreation;
and environmental safety. The most frequently mentioned sub-theme
pertaining to trail or road improvements among Greeley/Evans
GREELEY/EVANS
residents was about increasing and improving trails, bike or walk paths.
REGION TOP THREE
The remaining comments pertained to having better and safer
THEMES
roadways. Greeley/Evans residents expressed a desire to have more
1 Trail/Road Improvements
parks, playgrounds, and open space as well as more recreation options
for youth. Most of the environmental safety related comments from
2 Recreation
Greeley/Evans residents expressed a desire to spray for mosquitos.
3 Environmental Safety
However, there were nearly as many comments pertaining to air and
water quality concerns directly related to the oil and gas industry.
“Improve the trail system
within the city and
connect to nearby
communities.”
“I think we need more
places for kids to have
fun or activities to do.”
Greeley/Evans Resident Comment
Greeley/Evans Resident Comment
“Spray for mosquitos and
treat run off areas. What
happened to the
mosquito program?”
Greeley/Evans Resident Comment
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Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, 1555 N. 17 Ave., Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldhealth.org
2013 Weld County Community Health Survey
FIGURE 6
Greeley/Evans Region Resident Written Comments by Theme (n=379)
Percent of Comments
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Greeley/Evans residents also made quite a few comments on fracking and the oil and gas industry, health
care, housing, communities, neighborhoods, and law enforcement. Most of the fracking and oil and gasrelated comments pertained to banning or limiting the industry. Residents commenting on health care
spoke about health care costs, Obamacare, and maintaining and improving services for behavioral health
and reproductive health. The majority of Greeley/Evans comments pertaining to housing, communities,
and neighborhoods revolved around trash, weeds, garbage and other items that need to be cleaned up
in certain areas. The most frequently mentioned law enforcement sub-theme pertained to controlling
and eliminating gang activity.
COMPLIMENTARY COMMENTS ABOUT WELD COUNTY
It is important to note that in response to this question over 40 comments were identified as
complimentary toward Weld County. Most of these comments remarked on what a great and healthy
place Weld County is to live. Samples of the comments are listed here:
•
Keep up the work you have for all in our community and make sure children come first.
•
I moved to Weld County because of its healthier living.
•
I feel I live in a very healthy place.
•
I’m very satisfied with Weld County as a place to live.
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Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, 1555 N. 17 Ave., Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldhealth.org
2013 Weld County Community Health Survey
•
I think the county is rich in resources and a wonderful place to live and play.
•
Keep up doing your best to keep Greeley a great place to live.
•
Erie is an enjoyable and healthy place to live.
•
I live close to Boulder and Broomfield Counties, and am glad I live in Weld county.
•
We feel we live in the best county in the world and are very grateful. Thank you for the parks,
libraries, neighborhood trails, etc. Thank you for the good assistance during the flooding. We are
very grateful!
•
Firestone is great!
•
Weld County is a wonderful place to live.
•
I think Weld County overall is a healthy place to live.
•
We love Weld County!
•
In the time we have lived here, we have found Weld County to be a great place to live.
•
I am a proud resident of Weld County.
CONCLUSION
Over 20 main themes on a wide variety of topics and 100 sub-themes were mentioned by county
residents in answer to the question, “What suggestions do you have on ways to make Weld County a
healthier place to live, work, and play?” The most frequently mentioned suggestion in all four regions
pertained to trail and road improvements or safety with most comments focused on improving or
increasing trails, bike lanes, and walking paths. Improving and increasing recreation opportunities was
one of the top themes mentioned in three out of the four regions. The environment safety theme was
also a top theme in three out of the four regions and fracking and oil and gas industry concerns was a top
theme in two out of the four regions. One sub-theme worth mentioning pertained to residents’ desire for
improved mosquito and fly control. Finally, it is important to note that many residents already felt that
Weld County was a healthy place and expressed satisfaction about living in Weld County.
This information as well as the other results from the 2013 Community Health Survey will be used by
Weld County and its partners to further shape Weld County’s community health improvement plan, the
Health Department’s strategic plan, and the community’s priorities in order to help direct future health
improvement efforts. The health department would like to again thank all the residents who volunteered
their time to complete this survey. For questions or comments, contact Cindy Kronauge at 970-304-6470,
ext. 2221 or [email protected].
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Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, 1555 N. 17 Ave., Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldhealth.org