The project team asked that each attendee introduce themselves and answer the question, "What does community mean to you?". The answers provided a wide definition for community, ranging from geographic description, to the relationships between friends, family, neighbors and community members. It was acknowledged that community is what draws people together, providing a connection between unique and different individuals that make up any group of people. The stakeholder group identified early on that a fundamental component of community is cooperation and respect. The desire for this specific community is that it is inclusive and accessible to all age groups, all backgrounds, and all personalities living together. These different groups strive to support each other, plan for the future, and respect their individual needs.
After introductions, the project team led the community members in a visioning exercise. Each person was asked to brainstorm and identify five things they would like to see in their community in the next 10-20 years. These desires could include something physical like a 'greenhouse' or something more conceptual, like 'safety' or 'unity'. Each desire was written on a separate note card and returned to the facilitator.
In order to reinforce the tenants of team planning, the facilitator reorganized stakeholders into three groups. Each of the groups was given back a shuffled stack of the collected note cards and was asked to organize the noted desires into categories of similar qualities. A group appointed spokesperson reported back on how they organized their items. The three groups came up with the following categories and ideas within them:
1) Community and Buildings
- place for worship
- for daycare and children
- for exercise
- for quiet, warmth
- smokehouse
- banya
- for elders
- greenhouse and/or gardens
- swimming pool
- tea house
- for dancing and/or music
- sun porches
- a place of unity, that is safe, quiet, peaceful
- retains local character
- involves surrounding neighborhoods
- well-cared for
- a place with pride
- shuttle bus
- accessible to elders and disabled
- provided at a reasonable cost
- minimize traffic on Ames Road
- provide trails and walking paths where possible
- research all access routes to and from the site (not just Ames Road)
- trees and flowers are important, keep visually attractive landscape
- maintain the natural character and spaces
6) Services
- maintain law and order
- maintain slow speed limits
- keep property taxes low
With this input from the community members and project stakeholders, the project team will begin looking at plans for the site and how to incorporate input from the community. A second meeting is planned in September to present initial plans and ideas.
Please keep your eyes and ears open for the meeting announcement towards the end of the summer and attend the meeting this fall!
