Quality-of-Life Plan Sets Goals, Projects

Friday, March 10, 2006

More than 650 individuals participated in the development of an Englewood quality-of-life plan that provides a roadmap for improvement strategies ranging from safety and schools to job creation and retail development. (Scroll down for download.)

Residents and leaders spent many months attending meetings and discussing strategies for the plan.

Photo: Patrick Barry

Coordinated by Teamwork Englewood, the planning process included scores of meetings as residents, business ownersand leaders of local organizations developed 10 strategies and outlined 41 projects.

Participants developed this vision for the neighborhood:

We envision an Englewood where every resident, business owner, community and institutional leader is "making a difference." The Englewood of 2010 will be a welcoming place where people from diverse economic backgrounds live, play and work together. It will be a community that nurtures its young people, seeks wisdom from its elders and provides an opportunity for lifelong learning and positive civic engagement.

We will create this community of opportunity by building on the past and taking advantage of today's resources and innovations.

The 10 strategies are:

1. Attract new industries and service firms that create living-wage jobs while preparing residents for regional employment opportunities.

2. Renew Englewood's identity by reclaiming empty spaces and enlivening the community through cultural activities, gardens, new parks and public gathering spaces.

3. Rebuild a vibrant and diverse retail and business community at key locations throughout the neighborhood.

4. Jump-start the housing market to create a balanced, mixed-income community while providing support services to local families and individuals.

5. Promote healthy lifestyles that include physical fitness, good nutrition and better use of health-care resources.

6. Improve safety and security throughout the community.

Nearly 100 young people participated in a Youth Summit to contribute to the quality-of-life plan.

Photo: Patrick Barry

7. Bring new resources to schools to expand health and social services that help improve academic performance.

8. Create diverse opportunities for recreation, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

9. Initiate targeted services to special-needs populations to address critical service needs.

10. Create a community network to spread information, resources and expertise within Englewood and beyond.

To download the eight-page summary plan in Adobe PDF format, click here.

To download the full plan (a 5MB file that may take a few minutes), click here .