For the past two years, the “What If Middletown” group spearheaded by Middletown Moving Forward and the Community Building Institute along with numerous other local organizations, have been reaching out to all sectors of the community gathering input.
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Calista Smith, executive director of Middletown Moving Forward, and Karen Maney of the Community Building Institute, shared those thoughts and ideas to Middletown City Council at its Tuesday meeting.
Through surveys and community conversations and forums as well as additional analysis by volunteer work groups, it envisioned Middletown as a “community with civic pride and a welcoming doorstep; diverse and connected neighbors; opportunities for workers and businesses in the new economy; and with access to quality arts, entertainment, education, housing, healthcare, and recreation.”
The vision of becoming a premier, 21st century All-American city came from more than 2,500 ideas generated during the process that were further refined by priority, feasibility and impact by six work teams.
The vision plan was organized into six areas: arts, entertainment, and recreation; education; health, wellness and safety; housing and neighborhoods; jobs, economy and commerce; and transportation and infrastructure.
The common theme throughout the six areas were lifestyle, economic development and civic pride.
The plan also included priority steps and key community partners that were identified in each of these areas. In addition, there were various metrics identified to help measure progress in achieving the plan.
“Some communities allow the future to happen to them, some communities recognize the future is something they can create. These communities take the time to produce a vision of the future they desire and employ a process to help them achieve their goals,” Maney said. “Successful communities understand that the things that they dream about will only come true through great effort, determination and team work. The city of Middletown is one of those communities.”
Among the ideas suggested to achieve this were:
- opening a dog park and other community-wide gathering places
- recruiting and hiring a diversity of teachers for city schools
- eliminating bullying in schools
- having a top-notch education system from pre-school through college
- developing strategies to reduce food deserts for senior citizens and lower income families with limited transportation
- seamlessly connecting the riverfront and the downtown as well as creating activities and entertainment events
- providing more dining options with restaurants offering healthy choices, ethnic eateries, and ice cream shops
- continuing community events such as Light Up Middletown and the Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon event
- providing more youth activities in their neighborhoods
- deploying more resources to help those with drug addiction
- increasing police patrols and neighborhood watches as well as using cameras and other technologies to deter crime
- building a community swimming pool
Having well-paved roadways and the infrastructure to support quality housing and commercial development was also key area in the report.
“This report is not to sit on a shelf,” Smith said.
Among the next steps, Smith said a transition committee is sharing the document with various Middletown organizations seeking endorsements and understanding of activities as well as monitoring progress. She also asked council to take a month to review and comment on the document as well as align resources and planning to priorities identified.
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