Decatur’s More Immediate Goals
Decatur Metro | May 24, 2011 | 9:27 amSure Decatur just finished its Strategic Plan for the next 10 years, but that’s like 10 years away! My internet-toned brain shudders to think of how many funny cat pictures or Facebook status will come and go in 10 years.
I need more immediate gratification. And I bet you do too.
Thankfully, Decatur’s 2011-2012 budget summarizes many of the goals the city plans to tackle in the next year and a half. Some you’ve heard of already, others may shock/please/bore/annoy you!
In last year’s budget, the city broke its goals up by department. This year they’ve broken them up by the four overarching goals in the Decatur Strategic Plan. Don’t remember what those are? Well, NOW who feels silly for not having them tattooed on your back? OK, I’ll give you the full breakdown.
1. “Manage Growth While Retaining Character” 2011-2012 New Projects, Programs & Policies
- • Update the Zoning Ordinance to address housing, parking and design standards (Tasks 1A‐D SP)
- • Write Historic Preservation Plan, update preservation ordinance, and submit 2 National Register nominations (Goal 4 SP)
- • Improve the landscaping and physical appearance of the Square (Task 1E)
- • Design complete street improvements for the Commerce/Clairemont and Commerce/Church intersections as well as the Church Street corridor to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety
2. “Encourage a Diverse and Engaged Community” 2011-2012 New Projects, Programs & Policies
- • Smartphone application Decatur Dash (Task 8D)
- • Decatur Arts Alliance Public Art Project (Task 8C)
- • Communication about Aging in Place programs (Task 5A)
- • Adoption of Universal Design Guidelines (Task 5F)
- • Evaluate diversity of artists and participants at current events (Task 5B)
3. Serve as Good Stewards of the Environment and Community Resources 2011-2012 New Projects, Programs & Policies
- • Urban Forest Master Plan (Task 13A)
- • Environmental Sustainability Plan (Task 12A)
- • Construction of Decatur Recreation Center and Fire Station 1 (Task 11B, 12D)
- • Trail in Dearborn Park (Task 13E)
- • Decatur WISE program (Task 13C)
- • Invasive plant removal program (Task 13G)
4. Support a Safe, Healthy, Lifelong Community 2011-2012 New Projects, Programs & Policies
- • Update parking standards (Task 14H)
- • Implementation of new parking meter technology (Task 14I)
- • Ordinance updated to allow smaller homes and accessory dwellings (Task 15B)
- • Active Living marketing campaign (Task 16 B)
- • Expansion of after school program to the 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue (Task 16C)
- • Installation of new playground equipment (Task 16D)
- • Environmental Sustainability Plan (Task 12A)
I wonder whether the new playground equipment (4.16D) refers to the Fifth Avenue Academy. The information I have is all second-hand, but I believe that CSD does not have playground equipment in their budget (right now) for the new facility.
Sigh, hope you are wrong on the playground equipment. It was promised after a hue and cry last year. CSD acts like 9-11 year old elementary school students are not still children with the physical and academic need to play.
Answer: no it is not for 4/5. It was for Glenlake Park. The 4/5 is going to have playground equipment ( with help from the school, PTO, community) installation is being put on a schedule.
Kids not making the decision, informed adults are so no dollars are wasted on unused equipment. They will be treated like 4/5 graders by the wonderful teachers and adminstration. They will enjoy recess (15 minutes) everyday and lots of open space to run and play.
At the parent meeting for rising 5 th Ave parents last week we were told equipment was coming– they wanted to see what the students wanted before deciding what to get.
Well, they should have been polling them now because waiting just means a longer period that the students don’t have the equipment. Half of the Academy is only there one more year and the other half is only there two years. So they’ll only get playground equipment for 50-75% of their time there? And I’m all for student participation but the kids are all going to vote for the spinner thingy and that’s probably the biggest problem of all the Glennwood equipment. Oh well. What did I expect? For some reason, CSD never could get enthusiastic about playground equipement for the 4/5 Academy. IMHO, one of the biggest arguments for a return to the K-5 concept is that we aren’t treating our 4/5ers like the elementary school children that they are. As it is, children are pushed way too fast by our society into becoming preteens, then teens; we don’t need to add to that.