The Never Ending Story of Community Revitalization
In my two decades of partnering on community revitalization efforts, a common misconception I’ve encountered is the belief that once we achieve a set list of desires—whether that is improved infrastructure, more local businesses, or enhanced public spaces—we will have “arrived.” The idea is tempting: reach a certain milestone and all challenges will be resolved, allowing us to live happily ever after. However, it’s crucial to understand that community revitalization isn’t a destination but a continuous journey. In the following article I will attempt to outline some key concepts and strategies to keep in mind to help you embark on the ever-changing labyrinth of community revitalization.
Reading the Cultural Landscape & Looking Back
“Through the art of storytelling, we can preserve our heritage, educate future generations, and inspire change.” ― Philipp Humm
“You can’t really know where you are going, until you know where you have been” ― Maya Angelou
Understanding a community’s cultural landscape begins with keen observation and active listening. As we set the path for community revitalization, we must reflect on a community’s historical roots. This means delving into the deep-seated stories and histories which have shaped its culture and identity. Every community has its well-known “founding story” which will define its spirit, and reflect its unique environment. However, these widely known tales often only touch the surface.
Our design process goes beyond the surface to explore the lesser-known narratives embedded in the community’s spaces and places, unraveling the threads that compose the broader tapestry of community life. These stories, both celebrated and obscure, have the power to redefine current perceptions and guide future narratives.
An essential part of this process is engaging with community members to capture the stories they live by today. What narratives do they embrace about their community, and what common themes emerge? By weaving together these historical and contemporary narratives, we gain profound insights into the community’s distinct identity, uncovering both challenges and opportunities.
Themes for the Springville Art Loops master plan emerged from community narratives characterizing Springville as “Art City.”
Setting the Course with Clear Goals and Vision
“If you don’t know where you are going you will end up someplace else” – Yogi Berra
Every community needs a clear vision and defined goals to guide its revitalization efforts. These act like a navigator’s toolkit, directing our journey and ensuring we don’t drift aimlessly. However, it’s crucial to understand that these goals are not the final destination but rather waypoints on a much longer voyage. As you begin to reach each of these milestones, you will find new challenges and directions that demand our attention and adaptation.
For the Logan Arts Master Plan, having a clear, community-informed vision was crucial to the ultimate success of the plan.
Moving in the Direction you Want to go
“Just keep swimming” – Dori (Finding Nemo)
In previous articles, I have written about the importance of moving in the direction you want to go, even if it means that you don’t 100% know exactly how to get there. Especially with community engagement, momentum is everything because it creates a positive feedback loop into your community’s ongoing self-narrative; that narrative is going to either be one of hope, optimism, and reinvestment, or of fear, disengagement, and disinvestment. Even if you don’t have a 6 million dollar bond to build an iconic park, that doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t engage the local community in a neighborhood cleanup or service day. Even these little steps are still steps in the direction of where you want to go; and, more importantly, all of those little steps are building and maintaining inertia that will eventually build and coalesce around those bigger, and sometimes seemingly impossible goals.
Platforms is a unique outdoor art gallery space that was initially conceived to provide activation to an otherwise vacant parcel of land in Ogden’s inner city. The site’s frequent rotation of temporary art installations has since become a popular pearl along Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll route and an important catalyst for the ongoing growth of the Nine Rails Creative District. In 2020, Io helped give the site a refresh by designing a series of low-cost, serpentine gravel pathways and a colorful pallet of xeric and native vegetation.
Adapting and Evolving: The Constant in Change
“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” – Dolly Parton
Revitalization is an evolving process, and as such, we must regularly step back to reassess our goals, visions, and strategies. This cyclical evaluation ensures that our actions remain aligned with the community’s current needs and aspirations. It’s about recognizing that challenges are opportunities for growth and innovation, propelling us forward rather than holding us back.
This Dolly Parton quote highlights the reality that there are always forces outside of our control. When those forces don’t act as we hope, we have the ability to adjust to make the best use of the opportunities we do have. The community revitalization process requires constantly adapting and evolving; there is no specific, defined end point, but rather it is a series of readjustments as we fill our sails with the forward momentum we find. What serves the community today may need to be rethought tomorrow. Embracing adjustment is vital for sustained development and relevance.
Io LandArch worked with the City of South Salt Lake on a Facilities Master Plan which laid out a path for a new community center. When the bond for this new campus failed, the city had to re-calibrate to utilize smaller existing facilities to meet community needs.
Celebrate the Process Itself
“Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.” – Winnie the Pooh
Finally, it is essential to enjoy this journey of revitalization. The process itself, with its ups and downs, becomes part of the community’s new fabric. Each step—whether a small victory or a learning curve—adds depth and resilience to the community’s story.
This pop-up on 25th Street in Ogden, including street art and dancers, celebrated the kick-off of the Nine Rails Art district Master Plan.
The final community engagement event for the Dumke Arts Plaza, “Welcome Fest,” was an in-person celebration, during a challenging COVID-19 era engagement process, and prototyped the experience of engaging with the proposed plaza. The event included creative activations, performances, and installations, as well as a 1:1 layout of the design, spray-painted on the ground. Not only did the event allow the community opportunity to weigh-in on and experience the proposed design, but it was a celebration of the process itself.
Crowds gathered for the opening of Dumke Arts Plaza, the first implementation project from the Nine Rails Creative District Master Plan.
In conclusion, while a clear vision and setting goals are important, the true magic of community revitalization lies in the journey itself: the never-ending process of growth, challenge, and transformation which keeps our communities vibrant and responsive. As you continue to navigate this path, we are here to help you identify where you are, where you want to go, along with goals and strategies, and to help you prioritize them to build momentum.
Learn more about our Community Design work here!