City Visions: Looking for the Big Idea
10:53 p.m. Monday, March 24, 2008
Tonight, a group of interested community leaders and citizens met to talk about what can bring revitalization to the Capital City.
Many feel that this time, it just may happen.
A standing-room-only crowd showed up for the first Vision meeting. The challenge for this group is to come up with one Big Idea that will make the Capital City a vital place to live. Helen Krow was excited about the meeting.
"I wish I knew the Big Idea," Krow said. "I came here to hear what people smarter than me might say." Many folks we talked to say improving the downtown riverfront is a priority-- or a larger role for the arts.
Clara Gamache had a solution as simple as this.
"Atreet lights. I've never lived in a city that didn't have street lights everywhere," Gamache said.
Heartland Visioning stories
- Visioning process moves forward (July 10, 2008)
- How Topekans are trying to improve their community (June 20, 2008)
- Topekans set vision for Heartland (June 19, 2008)
- Community members form plan for Topeka (June 16, 2008)
- Heartland Visioning focus group comments available (May 13, 2008)
- Visioning volunteers stepping up (April 15, 2008)
- Topeka Visioning Project: What the NIAs want (March 25, 2008)
- City Vision: Looking for the big idea (March 24, 2008)
But Bob Cutler says it's a con.
"Over the last 20 years, spent a little over a million dollars on one study after another," Culer said. "Yet Topeka has never followed the advice."
But Gamache insists this meeting has something the others did not.
"If the community's involved and in charge and back the change, then it's gonna happen," she said.
Sharon Boranyak says she sees a lot of hope in the packed room.
"I've seen a lot of interest groups on the band wagon. I really think it's gonna come together," Boranyak said.
The organizers have a deadline of seven months to come up with the Big Idea, and then a 15-20 year implementation process.
Comments
Note: ktka.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor vouch for the factual claims made therein. Nor do we review every post.
Mar. 25, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)PAL (anonymous)
Take care of what's existing FIRST then think of such ideas! Are you seriously wanting the best for Topeka or just flipping this town? This is the capital city of Kansas and it's downright embarrassing. As a tax payer living here my whole life I want to see all city streets FIXED RIGHT, stop the patching!!! It doesn't work! That's the first thing all the out of town people notice and comment about. I could care less about a river side idea. Why? Cause right now it's a very stupid idea. You are wanting to create another place that you will be unable to keep up. And in a year, when it becomes another eyesore, you will bring in a set of blueprints for yet another idiotic idea!! I put my vote on fixing Topeka blvd. and all other city streets as first priority!
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)