By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Now that the downtown green space has been given a green light by Bowling Green City Council, citizens are ready to dig in to the project.
“At long, long last,” Bowling Green Mayor Dick Edwards said to the Green Space Task Force that met this week. “You all hung in there.”
The task force presented a plan for the space at the corner of West Wooster and South Church streets nearly a year ago. Then they waited as council debated whether or not to place a city building on the same 1.7 acres.
“It may have tested your patience,” the mayor said to the task force. But now the site is officially preserved for community green space. “I’m grateful to City Council for doing that.”
But now what?
“Where do we go from here?” Edwards asked.
First, a steering committee needs to be formed to work on the overall plan, goal setting and the community campaign. This committee will include members of the original task force and others who are interested.
Next, other committees will be formed for fundraising, site design, publicity and marketing.
The group knows the space will be “a place where people can gather.” But the mayor suggested that the original design be revisited and fine tuned. To get the community on board with the project, material will be created “to tell the story” of the green space.
Eric Myers, chairman of the task force, suggested that a Use Committee for the site also be established. He recommended that a naming contest be held for the green space area.
Lloyd Triggs suggested that a scaled model be created “to see where it needs to be tweaked” and to give the public a better idea of the plan.
Edwards agreed. “People want to know what they are buying into.”
The mayor voiced concerns that he has heard from citizens about the green space.
- Some are worried about too much of the green space being paved over. “Let’s not get too much concrete,” he said, suggesting “minimalistic plans.”
- The space is not a city park, but is tied with the downtown. “It will add vitality to the downtown area,” he predicted.
- Soil conditions at the site may cause problems, including reports of an underground stream at the site. The city has also been cautioned that when the junior high building was demolished, building debris was buried there. “A lot of the building that was there was put back in there. I watched it,” said Larry Nader, a neighbor of the site.
In order to be able to accept donations for the site, efforts are being made to work with the Downtown BG Foundation, which may act as the gift receiving arm for tax purposes.
Task force member John Calderonello stressed the need for the process to be transparent and inclusive – with a request being sent out to the community for volunteers to join the committees.
“I know democracy is messy,” Calderonello said. But “if they feel they share in the process” then it will be more of a true community space.
The mayor agreed.
“I don’t want it to be a mayor-driven or a council-driven committee,” Edwards said. “It’s got to come from the community.”
The green space will be available for many community uses, such as Friday afternoon gatherings or bandstand performances.
The estimated cost to implement the initial green space plan was set at $250,000 – but that means the community has to buy into it – literally.
“You’ve already got a lot of good feelings in the community,” Edwards said. “It’s wonderful to be involved in some positive things, with overwhelming community support and interest.”
