Get Involved Mission Statement Calendar of Events Just For Fun           Associates   Projects   Spotlight
Forum Home LCFApril 1999 LCFMarch 2001 URFNovember 2001 Urban River Visions, November, 2003	The Livable City Forum - 2001 Forum looks to the Future Excerpts from the Herald News, March 2001 On March 17 Green Futures sponsored the forum "The Livable City: A Vision of Fall River" at Heritage State Park. "The intent of the forum is to provide average citizens with an opportunity to plan for improving the quality of life in Fall River," said Tim Bennett, president of Green Futures. "This event is a successor to a very successful forum held two years ago. In that forum, a great number of suggestions were made for improving the city, many of which have been implemented," he added. This form focused on what can be done to improve the city for its birthday in 2003, the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of the municipality that later became the City of Fall River. The forum began with a slide presentation, by Al Lima, of what goals were proposed in 1999 and what progress had been made in implementing these goals. Next, a brainstorming session was held to generate new goals, including specific actions that need to be taken carry out these ideas. The forum concluded with the sharing of goals and strategy sessions, developing detailed action plans for the next two years. "This event is rather unique; it isn't very often that average citizens have a direct voice in planning for their communities future," said Rev. James Hornsby, pastor of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, one of the forum's co-sponsors. Among the recommendations that were made at the last forum, those that have been implemented include the creation of the Bioreserve in East Fall River, the closing of the incinerator, new street tree initiatives, new regulations for Brayton Point and Montaup power plants and recommendations related to the BFI landfill.   Strategy Session Notes The following are the group notes, the results of the brainstrorming session in the afternoon. Group 1 : Mills - better use of, stop loss of Quequechan - bring back, restore bike path through it Pump House and 19th century sites catalogued and restored, uses of Ice House, etc. Superior Court - Historical Register Trolley System Restore cobblestone ruins, not cover up Expand waterfront access - planning Preservation Society - re-energize; expand Underground Railroad and other sites - point them out, mark them Arts - create space for the creative race moratorium on mill demolition. Murals on mill walls? Honor famous people - Emeril, Morton Dean, not just Lizzie Borden Use abandoned railways - protection of shorelines Use of existing railroad between Fall River and New Bedford and elsewhere Create community wide events to highlight historic parts of our City to raise awareness Arts Festival - whole community. Utilize BCC more? Inner city events also Reach out to ethnic families - get involved in Art Expand tree planting - City and maintenance Funding to beautify the City and neighborhoods Youth Center - purchased, not rented space, reuse of mill site, etc. Inventory of open space in the City and use as park? Tree planting? Can be done by City, grants and/or community help Open space tax breaks - for public use as well Landfill - stop expansion, have City support Generate electricity - Quequechan Step up recycling - plan immediately for what we will do 5 years from now Public awareness - boiling water reminders Public awareness of drug problem as well, not just gambling. Needle exchange programs. Need to be aware. Transportation - high speed ferry, railways - electric Inventory Diocese buildings that are being downsized, for their possible uses - Youth centers, etc. Group 2: North Watuppa - protected as a non-rec. area Cook Pond - proactive maintenance (Dave's Beach and South Watuppa) Educate general public Recycle expansion, schools, Gov. Center, City Access walks to Quequechan Energize Bike Path Committee Sewage treatment for South Watuppa More waste baskets for Parks, with recycling Desalinization Plant in Dighton Open Public Space Landfill - when it closes...? Sub-standard lot concern (Var.) Cultural Arts Links to open spaces - walkways to Waterfront and other open spaces Potential or non-use of Incinerator Smoke stack emissions Food marts using recycling Food co-op Garden Club Children's Education - Environmental Clubs Historic Preservation Green Party - political issues Hazardous waste Have a waste day or days to have large items picked up - so they don't end up in parks, forests, ponds Grass roots health issues, researchers Group 3: Litter: educate kids, newsletter for kids, deposit on scratch tickets, enforce litter laws - display in paper, more visible governmental advocacy, litter stewardship, work with "Clean City Committee" Community Gardens: get Fall River Garden Club, nurseries, schools, city groups, YMCA Enforcement of Ordinances: city to send out mailings explaining ordinances, complain to City Hall More Watershed Land protected: find out what land is unprotected, work with state, city local groups, educate Tree Care Line Item: formalize tree management plan, bring it to council Environment Group, agenda item for City Council, get neighbor groups involved Park Maintenance: Apply for grants - state , federal, increase park budget, needs assessment, jobs for kids Tourists: focus on bringing tourists to Heritage State Park - food, vendors "Bull Markets" carts Bike Path: Joe Camara City Council, GF to advocate Sidewalks: work with planning department "Boulevard" look for Highland and Eastern Aves: Fall River STTF talk to Beautification Committee, check on grants Teachers: improve teachers salaries, attend school committee meetings Environmental Education in schools: Junior Green Futures, school committee, recycling - Water Board, PTO, support school environmental groups Preserve "Urban" open space: Open Space Plan!! Action on Open Space Plan: Open Space Plan!! Consider traffic when planning schools: work with Planning Clean Air Issues: Power Plants, get involved - local and state Get rid of Incinerator: for good, more citizen activity Improve recycling: make it mandatory, education Group 4, Seagulls: Education about environmentalism in Public Schools Lower part of Taunton River Administrators need to be pressured (public officials) to recognize the seriousness of environmental health issues Diverse partition in environmental issues: Environmental Justice (low income. ethnic diversity) Pollutants affect a large area, reach out to neighboring towns and cities, Regional Outreach Neighborhoods need to be preserved, through making them pedestrian friendly, etc. Maintain neighborhood integrity, tenant and public housing Historic Preservation, Historical Commission Affordability/ gentrification Greenbelt, bike paths The Incinerator Recommendations for action: Begin dialog with School Dept., incorporate into CSL Program, integrated into Bioreserve Project. Trustees of Reservations, built early on into the curriculum Preserve affordable housing stock, maintain what exists. There is a need for Public Housing, demolish wastes. Better resources to rehabilitate and preserve. Economic issues and environmental issues should not be pitted against each other, instead find the common enemies. Neighborhood urban groups and suburban groups should work together. Advocacy training to empower people. Show people examples of victories and success of community organizing Environmental issues are social issues! CFC website will promote activities to network people on regional issues. Give tours of some of the most glaring environmental problems to promote awareness. The plan for the bike path needs to be resurrected. Federal Rails to Trails money will promote economic development as well. Reclaim the river as an amenity. Canoe rentals. Better access, places where the public can get close. Public Access Board (state government), Fisheries and Wildlife can make this happen. State Heritage Rivers Program.   Group 5, Foxes: Clean-up, rediscover big Q River Bike path creation Preservation, re-establishment society, vital grant Historical Committee 40C Historical District Review the City's Master Plan, vision needed Brownfields cleanup Thermal pollution - Brayton Point Support CSO Project, build support All out cleanup, beautification and maintenance of City Investigate neighborhood schools, related issues More public accessibility in planning projects - depress Rte. 79 into boulevard Focus on Olmstead Parks Reactivate City Entrances Committee Develop a plan to preserve and re-use mill buildings Preserve industrial zoned land Tear down and clean up Incinerator (ID funding) Pedestrian-friendly downtown and neighborhood, handicapped accessible Swimming beaches in City Open Taunton River to shellfish (fish depletion) Bring back the Quequechan Falls! Park over Interstate 195 East of Government Center Restore Forest Hills Park (old St. Vincent's property) Fund urban design plan for City Update Historic Listing Survey Celebrate/ involve diverse population groups Back to top

[an error occurred while processing this directive]