An informal group of District Four residents and city officials, calling themselves "The Under the Oak Tree Group" since they were meeting in Franklin Park under the oak tree, began the process of translating the vision that residents had roughly sketched out at the Planning Meeting of June 15 into a more concrete action plan.
Mayor Ringhand, City Administrator Bill Connors, Roger Berg, Sceone Gaard, Ayn Steinlein, Judge Alisankus and The Observer, Richard Woulfe were in attendance.
There was general agreement that the key thing is to get the "vision" right and then proceed. The East is not the historical district, but the effort will be to create a quality entrance to the Evansville Downtown. Ideas were shared about street lighting, flags, flowers, the possible windmill location, trees to be planted, speed limits, tree planting rebates etc.
Residents will be invited to a meeting in July to get their imput. The Observer will play a role in keeping residents of the 4th Ward aware of the upcoming events.
With the highway construction proceeding rapidly, there was the sense that now was the time for a fresh beginning. All attending felt positive about this new beginning.
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It will be interesteing to see how this turns out! I'm excited that there is some interest along East Main... and now that there is some communication between the residents and the city that makes it even better.
ReplyDeleteMaybe whatever happens there will be an example for the rest of the city. Here's your chance East Main... you asked for it and you got it... now what will you do with it?
Addressing the motorized shopping karts... The new sidewalks will take us all the way to the gas station. This maybe the moment to ask the Pig or other groups if they would invest in a couple of rascals or motorized shopping carts. I also would like to point out that in business it is much like nature, Survival of the fitest.
ReplyDeleteGood old fashion competion is what fuels developement. I do not feel that a person should support a local just because they are local. In my minds eye the business I support must have what I need to purchase at the price I need to purchase, and the quality I need.
I myself try dillignetly not to buy products made in China. I am not always successful but I check labels and manufacturers and so on.
My purchasing decisions are different than yours and that is ok.
I am actually looking forward to another bank, the benefit is lower interest rates, more service, the choice to bank where I want with out having to go out of town.
I would like to see a Walgreens in town. it is so much easier to get prescriptions filled. I have never been able to use my insurance at the local one. Imagine my frustration at not being able to use military insurance here in town.
Lastly I am very excited about East Main, some changes will be quick some may take a while. Thanks to this blog the lines of commincation have been open.
I am prepared to do whatever is asked of me to help to improve and enhance our gateway area!
East Main Vision:
ReplyDeleteIn my previous post I was some what sketchy about the details of everything that was going on, I would like to take a few moments here to fill you all in.
First a little background,
I took Roger B. up on his invitation to "clear the air" I had a few questions that were fairly sensitive for him.
The next morning we talked face to face.
We talked about the past and put it to rest. Talked about the future and leaped into action.
I mean that literally, you see Mrs. Woulfe painted a picture that was what I have envisioned E. Main to be for as long as I have lived here.
Now some one else could see the picture come to life.
By last Monday,
Here is what has happened.
A small group of "Gateway Nieghbors" met with the city officials.
The purpose of the meeting was three fold.
1- to open up the lines of communication, committing to a dialogue.
2-to share the vision of the picture. Can you see E. Main as a lovely and quaint area that when people drive through they notice that it is a very nice neighborhood,
It may be that you notice the hitching posts, or the flags flying or the lights, maybe they notice the pride that has gone in to the area.
3-To schedule and work out some ideas for District 4's meeting of nieghbors.
I am proud to say that the following has occured since the meeting.
90% of the action items are complete.
As a group we have counted houses, recieved costs estimates on hitching posts, and flags.
drafted flyers,
made verifications with the city.
This has been a very uplifting experience for me. The meeting was very positive, the city officials now realize how minor issues can be monumental to us.
Example the speed limit on Union is going to be 25mph the speed limit all of the way to the pig will be 25mph. this is huge for us. It means that traffic will move through us much slower.
It will take a village...there is still a lot of work to be done.
Today I have a better understanding of issues going forward.
Anyone that would like to go door to door thru District four to hand out flyers for the potluck please let me know.
ReplyDeleteThere are 200 printed as of today. We can get more if needed.
Well where do I begin.
ReplyDeleteI moved here last year in hopes of settling down here, had I known that all this construction was going to take place I certainly would NOT have relocated to Evansville.
Certainly I understand the need to repair streets and grow, but to do it all at once in one season, how's bright idea was that? Whoever it was certaily has his head up his rear end. Especially to completelt cut off all access to Jackson and Franklin at times.
This whole experience has left a BAD taste in my mouth and I just wanted to express this. I can't believe that I am the only one that feels doing all this construction in one season is too much for a town the size of Evansville.