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It
takes gumption and vision in building
successful communities, no matter where
By Carol Hassell
President
Gwinnett Open Land Trust
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's note: Carol Hassell has
just been elected to the Suwanee City Council for a four-year term
to begin January 1. Here are some thoughts she had on "community."
-- eeb)
DEC. 7, 2001 -- We spent much of the Thanksgiving holiday in a
municipal park; for my husband and me it offered briefly a glimpse
at what people can do when they concentrate their efforts on building
a community.
For years, the little town of St. Marys, Ga., seemed to be on the
verge of something, waiting for a big event. Merchants had worked
hard in recent years to renovate historic old buildings in the downtown
area and create interesting shops and bed-and-breakfast stay-overs
for visitors. But the town lacked a centerpiece, a heart, a place
that marked the quintessence of the town's spirit.
The wait is over. Now St. Marys has a terrific new municipal park,
a freshly formed green jewel on the main thoroughfare called River
Street --- ten years in the making, according to mayor and local
hotelier Jerry Brandon. Acquiring the tract took a mayoral push
to overcome some heart-stopping hesitation by City Council. A local
foundation added a million dollar grant to several other smaller
awards and the city won a federal transportation improvement grant
(called a TEA-21 or Transportation Enhancement Activity grant).
The results are a show-stopper!
And a magnet! We looked on as people strolled and pushed strollers,
sat on benches and swings, walked dogs, took family pictures, watched
the little fountain and gazed at the St. Marys River throughout
the day, then watched the park lights wink on at dark.
The lesson here seems to be it takes work, will, patience and vision
on the part of many individuals to realize a community-centered
place. And people want --- enjoy, throng to --- such a place. Compare
this to the throw-away-community sentiment being voiced by some
in Gwinnett County: "Don't like what they're doing in Gwinnett;
can't be bothered trying to help change things. We'll sell the house
and move further out."
While that's not my idea of the best way to build an enduring,
vibrant community, I am heartened by the actions of other Gwinnett
residents determined to stay the course and build a community that's
centered with a sense of place and the future.
For instance, there's the commitment to protecting trees and water
quality in untouched greenspace and to making parks for children
and people to play. (Sure, I know there are other qualities that
make a desirable community, but these are especially important both
for our health and for a sense of place.) Voters continued the special
local option sales tax last year to pay for these essential community
places. And Suwanee voters passed a bond referendum to pay for endangered
greenspace and passive park areas within the city limits.
Moreover, the Gwinnett Open Land Trust now has around 160 acres
under protection, thanks to generous landowners, developers and
the City of Snellville --- all of whom see the value to their community
and themselves of conserved land.
These are just three examples of the gumption and vision it takes
to build a lasting community. I, for one, am glad to be a part of
building a lasting community
-- 30 --
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