Jim Bedell, Bay City Planning and Construction Services Manager Addresses Group.
Photo by Andy Rogers

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Bay City Above PAR Planners Meet

Over 100 Citizens Gather At Doubletree For Planning Session

July 14, 2012
By: Stephen Kent

In the Spring, Bay City was one of the first communities to be awarded a service grant from the Michigan Association of Planning (MAP). The grant funds a project called "Above PAR - Bay City Planning for Place, Access & Redevelopment." For the next year, Bay City citizens and public officials will work with MAP to study the community's assets. The group will then make recommendations that will help guide planning and development efforts into the future.

This grant was funded by the C.S. Mott Foundation and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The project is totally funded by the grant and will cost the city nothing.

Last Thursday over 100 citizens, community leaders, and government leaders met at the Doubletree to brainstorm city assets for two hours. A week earlier members of each Citizen District Councils met at the Pere Marquette Depot for a similar session that laid the ground work for the larger group.

Thursday's group was randomly assigned to tables of about ten people. Each table included a large satellite map that focused the discussion, which was led by a facilitator. The tables addressed assets like community organizations, businesses, parks, transportation, services, etc. Following the group discussions, each table briefly reported its findings to the room at large.

This meeting is one in a long series that will include community workshops, clinics and charrettes. At completion the group will make recommendations and produce a manual.

All activities are open to everyone. The web site has details on when and where meetings will be held. There is no cost to attend. Registration is requested but is not required.

All activity and results are being reported regularly on the group's web site, which can be viewed at www.baycityabovepar.org