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Gold Hill residents voice community improvement ideas By SANNE SPECHT for the Mail Tribune Gold Hill residents are taking community planners up on their request to share their dreams about what makes an ideal city. About 30 residents on Thursday contributed ideas as Sue Densmore and Burke Raymond of Densmore Communications facilitated a three-hour, informal meeting at Patrick Elementary School. With $5 million in grant money for various projects on the way, Can-DO, Gold Hill�s community development group, decided the city needed professional guidance to coordinate all the upcoming improvement projects. During the first of several scheduled "community coaching" meetings, Densmore stressed this was an opportunity for residents to personalize their vision for five years� worth of projects that include everything from reinstating a police department to bike paths along the Rogue River. One of those projects is the resurfacing and enhancement of Highway 99 by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Funded by $1.8 million from ODOT and a $300,000 block grant from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, the project is large in scope and possibilities. "We�re trying to avoid a cookie-cutter approach to these projects," said Densmore. "The more input we can give ODOT at this point, the more they will try and accommodate our wishes during the projects� implementation." Raymond said the meeting was organized to take the city�s strategic plan to the next level. "There is an enormous amount of activity in the planning stages that is about to be rolled out in Gold Hill," said Raymond. Some of the residents� ideas included enhancing Gold Hill�s downtown with sidewalks, streetlights, benches and a kiosk in the city park, as well as building a public bathroom. Some felt encouraging travelers to stop in Gold Hill and patronize local businesses was a priority. Others voiced ideas regarding site locations and building suggestions for the new 5,000-square-foot library, including the possible addition of a community center. Carol Shideler, 10-year resident of Gold Hill, said she�d like to see the city a bit more spiffed and polished. "I love this town, and I�d love to see it clean itself up," said Shideler. "We have a great community. We should look like one." Representatives of city, state and federal organizations attended the meeting to hear community input and explain their place in the city�s new vision. State Rep. Cherryl Walker is helping the city acquire additional funding for the state and federally mandated removal of its diversion dam and relocation of its city water intake. Walker was pleased to see the city reaching out for community input. "I�m very encouraged about Gold Hill. They have so much potential," said Walker. "It�s very exciting and a real citizen effort." The next community meetings are scheduled for July 16-18. Densmore said the July meetings will feature artistic renderings encompassing some of Thursday�s project ideas. Sanne Specht is a free-lance writer living in Rogue River. Reach her at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2002 Mail Tribune, Inc.