It is everyone’s downtown.
And the Humboldt Downtown Business Improvement District wanted to hear everyone’s concerns, suggestions, and ideas at their World Cafe on Jun. 22 at the Humboldt Legion.
The topics for discussion included six main areas of concern that have been identified by the Business Improvement District and senior staff members at the City of Humboldt; parking, infrastructure, design, culture, lighting and furniture, and parks and green space.
Pat Maloney with Dillon Consulting says they got a huge amount of information from people in attendance.
Six tables were set up with a specific topic so people could gather at an area of interest and throw ideas around for 20 minutes before moving on to the next table.
Dillon had posters with different ideas from different Saskatchewan cities and people were free to talk about what they like and what they do not like about the different ideas.
Each table had a moderator so no idea was thrown out and not recorded for Maloney and her staff and the Business Improvement Board, including member, Dean Hergott.
“We saw a lot of engagement and ideas, a lot of ideas we’ve talked about in the past resurfacing, and generally a positive attitude,” says Hergott.
Hergott moderated the parking discussion but when he walked around he heard a lot of beautification discussion.
Hergott heard a lot of parking concerns, some perception, others reality.
Participants were able to take part in discussion on four different topics and then were asked to give out one word on what they would like to see from their downtown in five to ten years.
Maloney walked freely between tables and heard good discussion when it came to how to draw people to the downtown area, the biggest theme of discussion being how to make the downtown more pedestrian friendly.
“Improving the sidewalks, connectivity, creating more opportunities for events and festivals. Even little things like a busker’s corner or improving the seating in Civic Park. Everything I’ve heard will bring people into the downtown more.”
This drive is not just for the cultural or entertainment values but also for the local businesses.
Everyone who comes downtown can then have an opportunity to buy something and help out local businesses, says Maloney.
Maloney presented the findings from the World Cafe at the city council meeting on Jun. 27.
Maloney gave very preliminary results as she says has not gone through the tremendous amount of feedback given at the cafe.
What was presented to council was suggestions for the main improvements people wanted to see as well as a timeline of where this information will go from here.
Maloney and her staff are now on task to create a list of top priorities and ballpark cost estimates to present at StreetFest in August.
