A simple way to build the city we want

Just show up and give your input for the City of Alton's future

Earlier this year, while doing a story on James Killion Park and Alton Mayor David Goins’ connection to it, I took a chance to ask Mayor Goins about a potential riverfront skate park. Currently, that idea is being championed by C.J.’s Juicery proprietor Courtney McLaughlin. After getting hundreds of signatures on a petition, McLaughlin wanted to know where to go next with her dream of having a destination skate park in Alton.

Goins said that the city was about to put together its next 20-year Comprehensive Plan. See, cities think decades in advance about where they are going and what priorities they have. Such plans make it easier to do long-form projects and work with various entities within the city. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the main entity controlling Alton’s riverfront, so a skate park would also have to go through them. Controversial entity AltonWorks also has designs of their own for the riverfront.

I told Courtney about that, and she said that she was also speaking to AltonWorks for assistance in building the park. Currently, she travels across the Midwest following her passion for skating. She mostly uses skates instead of a board, but still makes full use of these parks. She had a litany of complaints about Alton’s current skate park at Hellrung Park, which has since been closed by the city for repairs. She thinks a good park in Alton would bring folks from across the region for recreation.

Her idea is one of many great ones bouncing around the minds of Altonians. A lot of folks have visions of the city that would benefit their friends, families, neighbors, communities, and folks who haven’t been born or moved here yet. Many feel helpless without political power or the financial capital of such massive behemoths as AltonWorks. However, this is not the case.

Next Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Old Bakery Beer Company, the city will be listening to its people regarding its future. The next two decades could easily be decided by massive capitalists like AltonWorks and whatever bar owners are left downtown. They do not have to be, though. Each and every one of us has a say and we are being cordially invited to give it to our city.

We can shape the future of Alton by showing up and speaking up. I’ve already seen Courtney post about it. She’s trying to garner more in-person support for her dream of having a destination riverfront skatepark. The idea has our full backing, as we believe the youth of this area — as well as the old-heads still in the game — deserve every opportunity to follow their healthy passions. It’s also why we’re for the State Street Trails.

I know I’ll be there to support the skate park and any other great ideas brought by our community. I’ll also be there to cover it. Feel free to say hi!

A better world is possible, and this is how we build it.

If you can’t make it, an online form will be available starting tomorrow — Friday, Oct. 10 — for folks to share their ideas. The city also said there will be more opportunities for public input in the future. So, keep brainstorming and start talking to your fellow community members about shared needs and concerns.