PRESS RELEASE

CINCINNATI – Residents of Hamilton County invested in its future. Hundreds of people took the time to contribute ideas to Community COMPASS as the Regional Planning Commission looks at the county’s long-range future. Next week, those ideas will be formulated into goals – the next step on the road to a well-planned, well-conceived vision for Hamilton County.

During October, Community COMPASS held 12 Community Forums (including the Youth Forum) at various locations around the county, allowing all residents the opportunity to share their ideas and concerns for the county’s future. More than 600 residents participated, generating over 1,800 ideas.  To make sure everyone had the chance to contribute, the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission and Community COMPASS conducted an online idea gathering session that generated an additional 750 ideas.

“These kinds of contributions – whether in person or online – really demonstrate that people care about their communities,” said Jacquelyn McCray, co-chair of the Community COMPASS Steering Team. “We are excited about the depth and breadth of the ideas generated.”

Common ideas emerging from the sessions addressed:

• Housing

• Natural resources

• Economic development

• Mobility

• Culture and recreation

“These recurring ideas tell us what most concerns residents,” said Ron Miller, director of the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission. “Preserving greenspace and providing more housing choices are two topics that are clearly important.”

Among the specific suggestions from the community:

• Reuse outdated commercial buildings instead of always building new ones

• Preserve and accommodate open space and green spaces as growth occurs

• Revitalize neighborhoods with mixed incomes and racial mixes

• Public, private and charter schools work closer together and are more consistent

• Improve and increase the variety of transportation

• Create more after-school  activities at community centers for elementary school  kids

The next phase of Community COMPASS is idea categorization and goal development, which will occur at the goal-writing workshop on Thursday, Nov. 15. At the workshop, the Community COMPASS Steering Team will create goals for the county based on the ideas from the Community Forums. The Steering Team, a committee from the Planning Partnership compiled of members from the public, private, and civic sectors of Hamilton County, oversees the entire COMPASS process.

“Community COMPASS is not just a month long series of meetings;” Miller said. “It is a continuous process that will better the lives of everyone in Hamilton County.”

On Jan. 12, 2002 a 1,000-person Countywide Town Meeting will be held at Music Hall. At this meeting, participants will create a unified vision for the county and prioritize goals for its realization.

To attend the Countywide Town Meeting, people are asked to register online at www.communitycompass.org or call 946-4405.