On September 7th, Near Eastside neighbors and stakeholders gathered in Arsenal Tech’s cafeteria for Near Eastside Visioning Day. This event is the first major step in the process of creating a new Near Eastside Quality of Life Plan. The original Near Eastside Quality of Life Plan was unveiled in 2008 after months of collaboration between neighbors and community organizations. Since then, the Near Eastside has continued to develop and change. As time has passed, the need for a new Quality of Life Plan has become clear, with neighborhood needs continuing to change. Over 250 people representing various neighborhoods and organizations attended Visioning Day to discuss important topics and share ideas and dreams for the future of the Near Eastside. Multiple rounds of table discussions allowed people to gather for a small-group discussion around a particular topic of interest. Table topics covered issues like affordable housing, IMPD relations, local food solutions, economic development, educational opportunities, and many more. After each small group session there was time for representatives from each table to share some of the ideas they discussed. Along with these sessions of brainstorming and sharing ideas, many large displays were created to showcase the ideas that attendees came up with throughout the course of the event. Visioning Day brought together the diverse group of people who call the Near Eastside home to kick off a process that will continue through the coming months. Check out photos from the event here and keep up with the latest developments in the Quality of Life planning process on our Facebook page.
