As I have reported, recently I attended the Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee, NC, which stressed the importance of building local economies with outdoor-related tourism opportunities.
I truly believe that Weldon needs to become a destination for visitors. We have so much to offer for them to come and enjoy what we have and what we can develop. So, many of the ideas I will be presenting will be colored with that thought process.
I came away from the conference believing that Weldon needs to have a Downtown and Recreation Master Plan. Having a Grand Plan for everything we are trying to make happen will go a long way in our ability to seek funding for many different things.
While we have plans for some individual projects, such as the River Walk and the Town Square, these projects will need to be encompassed into a Master Plan which will need to include everything we have been wanting to happen. All the ideas of creating a riverside trail from the boat ramp all the way around to Riverside Mill, the ideas of creating a venue to host concerts at the river, lodging at the river, and, as will be mentioned below, a Streetscape plan for Downtown. In a future blog, I’ll write about a business recruitment plan, a corridor improvement plan from I-95 through downtown and to the river.
These are ideas. We don’t need to wait till we have a grant that we have an opportunity to apply for, then scrabble and try to create a plan to apply for it. If all of these ideas were included into a Master Plan, it would show that we as leaders in the community have given forethought to what we want to happen and have planned it out.
I’m not suggesting that we spend months re-planning. I’m suggesting that we take all the ideas that have already been envisioned and put them into a well-packaged plan (with pretty pictures).
I would like for us to also consider these projects.
Downtown Streetscape. Currently, a committee is working on making improvements to the sidewalks.
But consider this.
A streetscape plan that converts our street with sidewalks into an attractive and inviting Avenue. New trees and planting areas, and sidewalks that deal with the elevation challenges and connect these to the green spaces of Central Park, Rockfish Capital Hill, the Town Square, and the Canal Trail.
Washington Avenue could be so much more inviting and attractive.
While at the conference, I met several companies that were vendors that offered these services.
Gary Warner and Warren Ladbrook with Withers Ravenel, a Civil Engineering firm, could assist with Master Planning and with getting funding to make the project happen. They could also provide assistance to owners of some of the big building projects that need to happen downtown.
This company has been working with Four Oaks, NC on a Downtown Streetscape Master Plan. Here’s a link to that plan http://fouroaks-nc.com/economic-development/ Please take a few minutes to look over the web page and then click the link at the bottom of that page, it will open the actual report and “pretty pictures”.
Tim Johnson, Senior Planner with Destination by Design, specializes in creating Downtown Revitalization Streetscape Designs with Public Spaces. They also can create Recreation Master Plans.
The plans for the future Town Square project in the 100 block of Sycamore Street is a very attractive plan and worthy to be pursued and developed. But I believe that we need to give some attention to our current green spaces downtown. These are Rockfish Capital Hill and Central Park (the area between the apartments and Sunshine Grill)
I have been floating some ideas for these areas to local leaders that include improving the landscaping, installing a sidewalk from the top of Rockfish Capital Hill, and connecting it to Central Park. Relocating the shelter from the center of the lot to the back of the lot. This will allow for the shelter to be used as a “bandstand” and the yard for attendees.
We should also consider this, currently First Street, from Hwy 301 to Walnut Street, (near Riverside MIll) is the designated Canal Trail. And to be frank, it’s quite barren and not attractive. So much more could be done to make this a very inviting and attractive corridor leading visitors and trail walkers to downtown, the future Town Square, and the riverfront.
But all of these ideas and visions will need a “plan” in order to seek funding to make them happen.
At the Conference, there was a lot of excitement around the unprecedented amount of funding that is now available that can be used to develop outdoor economy opportunities. Money for all sorts of tourism-related projects that will lead to the growth of a communities economy. BUT the overlaying comment that was made over and over was “ You Need To Have A Plan”
That’s my belief. We need a Master Plan.
Look for the next Blog “To Become a Tourist Destination”