PRESS RELEASE

CINCINNATI – Schools and streets. Sewers and shops. Parks. Parking. Jobs. Neighborhoods. Thriving communities are the result of careful planning, and Hamilton County is about to do exactly that by tapping into its most vital resource: its residents.

On Oct. 9, the first of a series of Community COMPASS’ Community Forums will take place to gather the thoughts, visions and concerns that Hamilton County residents have for the future. Information from the forums will help shape a long-range plan for Hamilton County that carries the stamp of the people who live, work and play in the community.

“Community COMPASS will result in the first comprehensive plan for Hamilton County in more than 36 years,” said Jim Wuenker of the Community COMPASS Steering Team. “The process by which this plan will be developed invites everyone who has a stake in the county to help envision its future. It’s a marvelous opportunity to create a legacy of collaboration and cooperation in Hamilton County.”

The Community Forums will provide an outlet for people to discuss and even alter the direction of the county.

“Hamilton County is facing a lot of issues that need to be examined and challenged,” Mr. Wuenker said, “but only by hearing the voices of the people who are directly affected by these issues can we make changes that will benefit everyone.”

Although other communities within Hamilton County may be undergoing similar processes, Community COMPASS is the only such effort taking a broad look at the entire county.

“Community COMPASS is not driven by a single issue or community, but rather by the entire range of issues and communities within Hamilton County,” Mr. Wuenker said. “It is big picture, certainly, but the process is designed to bear the imprint of individual people and individual neighborhoods. We hope that every resident of Hamilton County seizes this opportunity to make a difference in the long-term success of our community.”  

About Community COMPASS

Community COMPASS is a countywide effort by the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission to bring together all interested groups to plan for the future of the county. Sparked by the Planning Partnership – a union of municipal, county, private and civic organizations – Community COMPASS is working to incorporate the thoughts, ideas and visions of county residents in the development of a comprehensive master plan. A series of Community Forums from Oct. 9-18 will gather ideas, and a Countywide Town Meeting will take place Jan. 12 at Music Hall. Community COMPASS has the unanimous support of the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. For more information, please visit www.communitycompass.org on the Web or call the information hotline 946-4505.

Community Forum Schedule*

• Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Scarlet Oaks Vocational School Auditorium, 3254 East Kemper Road, Sharonville

• Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Colerain High School Auditorium, 8801 Cheviot Road, Colerain
• Thursday, Oct. 11, at William Henry Harrison High School Auditorium, 9860 West Road, Harrison
• 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Taft High School, 420 Ezzard Charles Drive, Cincinnati
• Monday, Oct. 15, at Carson School, 4323 Glenway Ave., Cincinnati
• Monday, Oct. 15, at Woodward High School Auditorium, 7001 Reading Road, Cincinnati
• Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Sycamore High School Auditorium, 7400 Cornell Road, Montgomery
• Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Mariemont High School Auditorium, 3812 Pocahontas Ave., Mariemont
• Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Withrow High School Auditorium, 2488 Madison Road, Cincinnati
• Thursday, Oct. 18 at Oak Hills High School, 3200 Ebenezer Road, Bridgetown
• Thursday, Oct. 18, at Aiken High School Auditorium, 5641 Belmont Ave., College Hill

*Unless otherwise noted, all Community Forums will run from 7 to 9 p.m.

Countywide Town Meeting

The Countywide Town Meeting will involve 1,000 residents in analyzing and prioritizing key issues identified in the Community Forums. The Countywide Town Meeting will use a unique blend of conversation and technology, and will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 12, 2002, at Music Hall.

For more information about Community COMPASS, please visit www.communitycompass.org on the Web or call the information hotline 946-4505.