Photos: A hauntingly good time on ‘Scareborough’ in Cleveland Heights – Fresh Water Cleveland

Community-Led Urban Initiative: The “Scareborough” Project Report

Introduction

An annual, resident-driven initiative in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, transforms Scarborough Road into “Scareborough,” a Halloween-themed destination. This report analyzes the event’s organic development and its significant contributions to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on community, well-being, and sustainable urban living.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The “Scareborough” event serves as a practical model for advancing several SDGs at the local level through grassroots community action.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The initiative directly supports the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• Inclusive Public Spaces: By decorating their properties and welcoming visitors, residents transform a public street into an inclusive cultural space. The official closure of the road to vehicular traffic further enhances safety and accessibility for pedestrians of all ages, aligning with Target 11.7 to provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces.
• Strengthening Community Cohesion: The event fosters a strong sense of community and social inclusion, attracting residents from within and outside the immediate neighborhood. This strengthens the social fabric, a key component of resilient communities.
• Enhancing Local Culture: “Scareborough” has become an established local cultural tradition, contributing to the unique identity and quality of life in Cleveland Heights.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The project contributes to the well-being of participants and the community at large.

• Promoting Mental Well-being: Testimonials describe the event as “pure magic” where “everyone seemed so happy.” Such positive social interactions and community celebrations are vital for combating social isolation and promoting mental health.
• Encouraging Physical Activity: The pedestrian-only nature of the event encourages walking and outdoor activity for families and individuals.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The event exemplifies an effective, peaceful, and inclusive community-level institution.

• Organic and Inclusive Governance: The initiative’s growth has been organic, not centrally managed, demonstrating a powerful form of grassroots organization and collective action.
• Community-Authority Partnership: The collaboration with local police to close the street indicates a successful partnership between citizens and local institutions to ensure public safety and support a community-led event.

Project Analysis and Stakeholder Perspectives

Origins and Growth

The “Scareborough” transformation has evolved organically over more than a decade. According to long-term resident Chris Ball, the event’s scale has grown steadily, culminating in the need for official street closures for the past two years to manage its popularity and ensure pedestrian safety. The development appears to be a collective effort rather than the work of a single organizer, highlighting its deep community roots.

Stakeholder Testimonials

Perspectives from residents underscore the event’s positive impact on community life and its alignment with sustainability principles.

1. Jeanne Gordon (23-year resident): Describes the event as a “community event for the young and not-so-young,” emphasizing its role in fostering intergenerational connection and nostalgia, which are foundational to a strong community identity (SDG 11).
2. Chris Ball (26-year resident): Witnessed the event’s organic growth and notes the institutional support from police. This reflects a successful synergy between community initiatives and public services (SDG 16).
3. Michael Manne (Nearby resident): Cites “Scareborough” as a key factor contributing to the “higher quality of life” in Cleveland Heights. He connects it to other local events that build community, demonstrating how sustained cultural programming can lead to more vibrant and sustainable cities (SDG 11).

Conclusion

The “Scareborough” initiative is a notable example of a grassroots effort that successfully enhances community well-being and urban sustainability. By fostering social cohesion, creating safe public spaces, and strengthening local culture, the residents of Scarborough Road provide a replicable model for how local actions can make tangible contributions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the “Scareborough” Halloween event in Cleveland Heights connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focus on community well-being, safe and inclusive public spaces, and the promotion of local culture.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The story focuses on a community-led initiative within a city that enhances the quality of life for its residents, fosters a sense of community, and transforms a public street into a safe, celebratory space. The event brings people together and makes the city a more desirable place to live, as stated by a resident: “[Scareborough]… are some great community events that bring a higher quality of life to those of us who live and have raised families here.”

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article implicitly addresses this goal by highlighting the positive impact of the community event on the residents’ well-being. The descriptions of the event as “pure magic,” “nostalgic,” and a source of happiness (“everyone seemed so happy”) point to the promotion of mental and social well-being through community engagement and social cohesion.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant through the demonstration of effective local governance and community-institution partnership. The article notes that “police have closed the street to cars the last two years,” which shows a responsive local institution (the police department) working with the community to ensure safety and support a grassroots cultural event. This collaboration is a hallmark of strong and inclusive institutions at the local level.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces

   The transformation of Scarborough Road into “Scareborough” directly relates to this target. The article states that “police have closed the street to cars the last two years,” effectively converting a public road into a safe and accessible pedestrian space for the event. The event is inclusive, attracting “the young and not-so-young, for the toddlers and the groups of teenagers, for the close neighbors and those who come here from other communities.”

2. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

   While not a world heritage site, the “Scareborough” event is presented as a significant local cultural tradition that the community is actively strengthening and safeguarding. The article notes its growth “over the past decade, or longer” and its “organic development,” highlighting a grassroots effort to preserve and enhance a unique community celebration that residents consider “pure magic.”

3. Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being

   The article provides evidence of the event’s positive impact on mental health and well-being. A resident describes the atmosphere by stating, “The trick or treaters were loving it, and everyone seemed so happy.” Another resident expresses deep appreciation for how such events contribute to a “higher quality of life.” These statements connect the community activity directly to the promotion of well-being.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that could be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 11.7:

  An implied indicator is the number of hours or days public streets are repurposed for safe, pedestrian-only community events. The article explicitly mentions that the police have “closed the street to cars the last two years” for the Halloween event, which is a direct measure of creating a safe public space.

• Indicator for Target 11.4:

  An implied indicator is the longevity and growth in participation of a local cultural event. The article notes the event has been growing “steadily for perhaps the last decade” and has become a “destination for trick-or-treaters.” This sustained growth indicates a successful effort in strengthening a local cultural tradition.

• Indicator for Target 3.4:

  An implied indicator is the level of resident-reported happiness and satisfaction with community life. The article contains direct quotes measuring this, such as, “everyone seemed so happy,” and “[we] love how trick or treating on this street has become a community event,” and “we really appreciate it.” These testimonials serve as qualitative data on well-being.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: freshwatercleveland.com