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Still time to weigh in on Greater Springfield Moving Forward survey

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By Megan Gildow, Staff Writer Updated 7:23 AM Monday, June 21, 2010

Seth Campbell loves the greater Springfield area’s laid-back way of life.

“Greater Springfield is pretty cool,” Campbell wrote in his answers for the Greater Springfield Moving Forward survey. “I would have to say I treasure most the relaxed pace of life and the lower cost of living around here.”

But Campbell, 23, can see some ways the community could be improved — exactly what the people behind the initiative are seeking. The survey is anonymous but Campbell agreed to have his name released for this story.

The survey, which launched May 16 and goes through July 11, is available at locations such as the library and online at springfieldnewssun.com. The survey is aimed at identifying areas where the community could improve in the next five years.

Campbell thinks the community could improve by hiring graduates of local colleges.

“Young people are the future,” he wrote. “As a 23-year-old, I hold the future of Greater Springfield in my hands. Get some cool, affordable places to live downtown.”

He would also like to volunteer with the community’s youth through schools or events.

“I have way too much time on my hands and I would like to impact the lives of children in the area,” he wrote. “I see kids growing up with a terrible idea of what adulthood is about, and I hope that I can be a positive influence in someone’s life.”

One hundred and seventy-four people have weighed in on the direction the greater Springfield area should go.

The Greater Springfield Moving Forward initiative is seeking opinions from residents to identify what the community treasures about the area and what it would like to see improved.

The survey — available online at springfieldnewssun.com/go/movingforward and in libraries and other locations — began May 16 and continues through July 11.

Once the survey period has ended, a committee will tally the results and develop actions to work on in the next five years to meet the goals identified.

Questions are intentionally open-ended, according to organizers.

The survey is anonymous however the initiative provided responses, without names, to the News-Sun.

Question: What do you treasure about the greater Springfield area?

• “The safety I feel with our police and fire departments. Also, the parks, library and Elderly United.”

• “I treasure our natural resources — parks, green spaces, good water, clean air.”

• “Springfield is large enough to have a profitable business but then small enough that we can be anywhere in the county in thirty minutes or less. The Summer Arts festival is a great benefit to the community and there are other cultural activities to benefit many people. I grew up in Columbus and can be in Columbus in an hour. Wittenberg University and Cedarville University contribute much to the betterment of Springfield. We live in a house that adjoins Snyder Park and get to drive through the park daily which is a real joy. Ferncliff Cemetery is the most beautiful place in Springfield.”

• “The community has a clear identity. It is not a suburb of somewhere else.”

Question: What could make Greater Springfield a more vibrant community over the next five years?

• “Get the community’s leadership institutions (public, private, and nonprofit) to coordinate more fully with each other in setting and carrying out the community`s agenda.”

• “Work with the schools in our communities (both city and county) to help them reach and maintain the highest academic standards.”

• “I would like to see vacant homes and buildings renovated or taken down.”

• “Increase family friendly activities. Ice ring or something like Kettering Rec Center. A place like Young’s (Jersey Dairy Farm in Yellow Springs), different activities for all ages, bouncy houses, putt-putt, bumper cars, etc.”