Friends of Dicken Woods Fall 2004 Activities Planning Survey Overview

Background
The FoDW Activities Planning Survey received 49 complete responses between November 19 and December 4, 2004. Respondents were asked to assign priorities ("high", "medium", "low", or "do not do at all") to each of 12 possible activities. Each "high" response was awarded 3 points, each "medium" received 2 points, each "low" received 1 point, and each response of "do not do at all" (or "don't know") received 0 points. These points were summed for each activity, resulting in a final point-based ranking for the 12 activities. For example, the top-ranked activity - removing buckthorn - received 31 "high priority" responses (31 x 3 points each = 93 points), plus 14 "medium priority" responses (14 x 2 points each = 28 more points), 3 "low priority" responses (3 x 1 point each = 3 more points, for a total of 124 points), 0 "do not do at all" responses (0 points) and 1 "don't know" response (0 points).

In addition, each activity was assigned a "support index" score by comparing the percent of respondents who assigned it either "high" or "medium" (i.e., "strong support") to the percent who assigned it either "low" or "do not do at all" (i.e. "weak or no support"). The support index score was calculated by subtracting the percentage of "weak/no support" responses from the percentage of "strong support" responses. For example, the buckthorn activity identified above received "strong support" from 92% of respondents (31 "high" plus 14 "medium", or 45 out of 49 total responses) and "weak/no support" from just 6% of respondents (3 "low" responses; there was also 1 "don't know" response). Thus, 92% - 6% gives a "support index" score of 86%. In comparison, the lowest ranked activity - supporting Hanson Park, received "strong support" from only 12% of respondents (1 "high" response and 5 "medium" responses) and "weak/no support" from 63% of respondents (13 "low" responses and 18 "do not do at all" responses. Therefore, 12% - 63% gives a "support index" score of -51%.

The final rankings, with total points and support index scores are as follows:

Rank	Activity	Points	Support Index
1.	Remove buckthorn	124	86%
2.	Build bridges over wet areas	118	80%
3.	Install permanent signs & maps	103	55%
4.	Improve Dicken Drive area	92	55%
5.	Create classroom meeting space	89	45%
6.	Reforestation with saplings	88	31%
7.	Improve wildlife habitat & wetlands	86	43%
8.	Create path to school	85	35%
9.	Plant large trees	63	-6%
10.	Expand trails	59	-10%
11.	Support Dicken Park	41	-43%
12.	Support Hanson Park	26	-51%

Top-ranked Activities
Two activities stood out as very high priorities, with a great deal of "strong support" and very little "weak/no support":

• removing buckthorn (124 total points; 86% on the support index)
• building bridges over wet areas (118 total points; 80% on the support index)

2nd Tier Activities
After these top two activities, there are 6 more activities in a fairly close score range, though with higher levels of "weak/no support":

• Install signs/maps (103 total points; 55% on the support index)
• Improve Dicken Drive area (92 total points; 55% on the support index)
• Create classroom meeting space (89 total points; 45% on the support index)
• Reforestation with saplings (88 total points; 31% on the support index)
• Improve wildlife habitat/wetlands (86 total points; 43% on the support index)
• Create path to school (85 total points; 35% on the support index).

Negative "Support Index" Activities
Finally, there was a third range of activities that ended up with negative points on the support index score (higher percentages of respondents assigned these "weak/no support" than "strong support"):

• Plant large trees (63 total points; -6% on the support index)
• Expand trails (59 total points; -10% on the support index)
• Support Dicken Park (41 total points; -43% on the support index)
• Support Hanson Park (26 total points; -51% on the support index).

Summary
It seems clear FoDW should focus first on removing buckthorn and being prepared to help the possible Eagle Scout project to build bridges over wet areas. The bridge project requires the Eagle Scout to take the lead, FoDW simply needs to be prepared to provide assistance with labor and logistics.

What to do about the next set of 6 "2nd tier" activities is less clear and should probably be the focus of further discussion within FoDW.