Make your town better? How?

This is a photo of our park, one of the gems in my small town. It has multiple softball and baseball fields, a walking trail around a large pond (in which you can fish), a basketball area, a dog park, a playground, and  pavilions for get-togethers. Even public restrooms and water fountains.

A great asset to our town, although it doesn’t seem to be utilized that much. I like to go there to walk, and no matter what time I go, there are usually fewer than ten people in the entire park, unless a ballgame is going on. But maybe that’s another issue. Like heat or cold or people preferring to go to a fitness center rather than be outdoors.

I remember there was opposition to this park, but in may opinion, that opposition was very short-sighted. Don’t spend the money on a park, some said. Don’t increase our taxes. Kids don’t need a park and ball fields. Use Harmon field. Use the old fields behind the elementary school.

I won’t debate any of that, but I tend to believe our town has benefited economically from the park because of the tournaments hosted that bring in people who need hotels, restaurants, gas, and even a run to Dollar General or Walmart or E. W. James.

So what else is needed in our town? I recently posted the question on my author Facebook page and received a variety of responses from people in other towns as well as my own. Even from big city folks.

First, I’ll list the improvements that the city/town itself can make. Then I’ll list the improvements that individual businessmen could consider. Whatever the suggestions are, the truth is, most of it boils down to money. Most of it.

1.  Better codes enforcement. Unfortunately, we do have people who don’t care about how their yards look or how junky they keep them or how often the yard is mowed. Their lack of attention affects their neighbors. If you want to junk up your yard, please move outside of city limits. But if you live inside of city limits, you need to be respectful of your neighbors. I don’t know, maybe you’re the same people who are too lazy to put your shopping carts in the corrals at Walmart or the ones who leave that loaf of bread you decided you didn’t want on the shelf in the underwear section. If you’re guilty of any of that, are you offended that I’m calling you lazy? Go ahead and be offended. You’re right. I am calling you lazy. And socially irresponsible. Get over it and do a better job. So to the city officials, please have specific guidelines about maintaining property and fine the people who don’t comply. It doesn’t have to be super strict or overly invasive into their rights. Keep the junk out of your yard. Pick up the trash. Mow your hard. Simple.
2.   Sidewalks and better drainage systems. I live on a busy road, and I like to walk. I would walk to the post office and other places if I had a sidewalk on which I could feel safe. With distracted drivers at an increase, I don’t trust the cars coming at me. As far as drainage, this may go back to individual responsibility. When you mow, don’t throw the grass out to the road and leave it. Guess what–it’s going to clog something if a rain comes.

Now the individuals living in the town.

3.  Better housing options. In our town, everything is targeted to college students (which is partly the problem with codes enforcement). What about young couples, young professionals, older people, or any families who don’t want to maintain a yard? I have a friend who owns an apartment complex, and unfortunately, renters are not always easy to deal with. So what about reasonably-priced condos that can be purchased with a small HOA to take care of issues like yard mowing and sidewalk maintenance (yes, I want sidewalks)? Have you explored the possibility, done some marketing research, to see if your town has a need or interest? Can it be a financial plus for you as well as for the ones who are seeking that type of housing? OH, also–please locate these in a desirable spot, not in old parts of town. Not near the college.

4.  More entertainment options for young people. I have heard this ever since I was a teenager in McMinnville, Tennessee. If there were no ballgame to go to or a movie to see, we “cruised the strip,” and I know that happens in small towns everywhere. Parents posted to my page that a miniature golf course, bowling alley, skating rink, or similar places would give teens a safe outlet for entertainment. I’ll go beyond that. When we were in the OBX (Outer Banks, North Carolina) we went to a grass only miniature golf course that serious golfers could use. No boards or gimmicks. Just 18 holes of putting greens with challenges to help golfers. The man running it said there are very few in the U.S. So why not one of those? We seem to have enough golfers in the area.

5. A revival of a thriving downtown area. Shops centrally located downtown instead of spread all over town. My comment here: locals need to buy locally. I am guilty of not doing this as I should. Many times it is due to my frugality when it comes to clothes. I only buy stuff on sale, and it is so easy to go to Macy’s online and order something. But maybe if more of us supported the small businesses, the downtowns across America wouldn’t be drying up as they are.

I can see that our town could be promoted as a great place to retire. That’s another post, though.

Those are the main points brought up. Friends in a neighboring small town expressed the interest in soccer fields for their town, and a few mentioned more restaurant choices, etc.

I take pride in certain aspects of our town. The park. The downtown improvements with the street lights and more, the university, the farmer’s market, the proposed library (I know some are opposed to that, but I’m such a book geek, I love the idea. I remember when the new library opened at UTM, I walked in and teared up. Literally. It was a moving moment.)

But our town could be better, and it is not all up to our city government. It is up to us, the residents, to do what we can to make it better. Those of you with wealth and a means to do something in the business sense, please consider the suggestions. The rest of us, take personal responsibility. Sometimes we want the advantages of the city (shopping, entertainment, restaurants, medical care) with none of the problems (traffic, crime), but I think all of us that live in small towns know we can’t have it all.

But we can make it better. Wherever you live, make your town a better place. Kind of like President Bush’s Points of Light. Each one of us, doing what we can.

Look out City Hall. I’ll probably be attending your monthly meetings. I’m very curious to see what plans you have for our future.