On January 12 members of the Near Westside Initiative Board and community residents and stakeholders met to review what was accomplished in 2011 and establish priorities for 2012 and beyond. Before an entire day of charettes and brainstorming four words were identified as goals for 2012, connectability, innovation, livability and sustainability. With these broad goals in mind we asked ourselves two questions. First, what services, businesses, or ventures would really energize and activate the Near Westside? And second, what projects or programs would make the Near Westside have a greatest number of vocal and engaged residents in the city?
These are some of the biggest ideas the team came up with. How would you answer these questions? Post a comment and let us know what you think!
1. What services, businesses, or ventures would really energize and activate the Near Westside?
- Recreational facilities & youth programs
- The Skiddy Park clubhouse
- Pop Warner Team
- Child care center
- Cultural facility for large scale arts
- Job training center
- Blodgett auditorium as movie theater
- Federal Credit Union, bank & post office
- New dollar home program
- A demolition & vacancy fund
- Laundromat
- Neighborhood wide WiFi
- Bicycle shop
- Fitness center
- Neighborhood business directory.
2. What projects or programs would make the Near Westside have a greatest number of vocal and engaged residents in the city?
- A 5K fundraiser walk throughout the neighborhood
- Taste of the Westside festival
- Skiddy Park summer movie nights
- “Take Back Our Streets” safety program
- Civic engagement and political education program
- Neighborhood navigators
- Boys & Girls Club youth based citizens academy