Cleaner Streams, Stronger Neighborhoods

Sanitary sewer overflows in Columbus occur when rainwater overwhelms the sewer system. Traditional solutions, like expanding pipes, only address the symptoms. Blueprint Columbus focuses on the root cause—preventing rainwater infiltration—by implementing green infrastructure and improving residential systems to make neighborhoods more resilient. However, achieving this requires more than just technical expertise. Proactive resident engagement is crucial to ensure that solutions are customized to fit the unique needs of each neighborhood.

A key barrier to success is educating and engaging underserved communities in the older neighborhoods of Columbus. These communities often lack easy access to information, making it difficult to inform residents about the process and benefits of the proposed solutions. Additionally, the challenge lies in making these improvements not just functional but also visually appealing. By creating beautiful gardens and other green spaces, Blueprint Columbus can enhance the aesthetic quality of these neighborhoods, giving residents a sense of ownership and pride. However, this can be a difficult sell, especially in areas where residents may struggle to afford essential infrastructure upgrades, like new sump pumps, without outside support. It all sounds too good to be true, so we must overcome their skepticism and build trust through proactive, transparent engagement.

MurphyEpson works with the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities team to focus on in-person engagement, strategic partnerships and impactful visuals. Our team has worked tirelessly to connect with residents and build trust through direct, meaningful interaction with the community. We’ve made the program visible through vibrant yard signs, door hangers and mailers, ensuring residents are constantly informed about the project. We’ve also participated in local events, including lemonade stands, creating approachable spaces for neighbors to ask questions and share their thoughts. Public meetings, often providing free meals like burgers and brats, regularly attract several hundred attendees, creating an opportunity for community members to engage with the project team and voice their concerns. These events have fostered a sense of community and helped demystify the benefits of Blueprint Columbus, including its green infrastructure solutions like rain gardens.

A big part of building trust in the program within the community has been achieved through door-to-door and community engagement. Our subconsultant, D&D PolicyWorks, leads these efforts on our team. We also work in collaboration with RAMA, who also holds a contract for Blueprint with the City of Columbus. Together, we work together to ensure residents have easy-to-understand educational materials and feel comfortable sharing feedback in a familiar and supportive environment. Using the Freshdesk customer service platform provided by City of Columbus, we provide residents with a direct and easy way to communicate with the team via email or phone, addressing questions or concerns as they arise. In addition to these in-person efforts, we’ve maintained strong communication through quarterly newsletters, social media and other digital outreach. Social media updates, weekly emails on construction progress, and public meetings keep residents informed and engaged. Our paid marketing campaigns, particularly around the sump pump program, have leveraged targeted ads on Instagram, Facebook and Google to encourage participation. Through these efforts and more, MurphyEpson and its partners have helped Blueprint Columbus overcome barriers by building trust, creating a welcoming environment for dialogue and ensuring that residents understand and take pride in the improvements being made to their community.