Sharing the Map: Public Involvement in Concept Planning
by Evelyn Swimmer & Robert Potter
The citizens of Bristol, Pennsylvania, dove right into a mapping exercise that helped lead to a strategy for revitalizing the city's waterfront and downtown.
... For the mapping exercise, we divided the group into four smaller working groups. Symbols were provided for each group out of vaious colored papers representing elements on the action list, such as: commercial sites, wildlife areas, boat facilities, trails, recreation areas, historic sites, parking areas, street lighting, and signs.
Each group gathered around a table with a large map. We then instructed the groups to arrange their symbols on the map in ways that would make sense to them and meet their community's goals. They were encouraged to be imaginative and to try out new ideas.
The groups were given about two hours to work. We, as facilitators, then stepped back to see what would happen. People showed no reticence; they dove into the work with great enthusiasm. At the end of two hours each group selected "reporters" to present their work.
The Results
The resulting maps were illuminating. Each group had thoughtfully organized its colored symbols into a concrete vision of the future. Trail systems rimmed a future nature preserve and continued along sidewalks through the historic district; boat ramps, boat piers, bulkheads, rip-rap, fishing sites and other waterfront access points were seriously considered and placed appropriately as part of a shoreline improvement strategy; a city "gateway," parking areas and traffic patterns were sited to achieve both beauty and efficiency; park facilities were enhanced and expanded with plantings, seating and lighting.
We did not attempt to synthesize the four maps into one at the workshop. It was enough to have everyone feel good about their contributions. Later, the task force deliberated and merged the concepts.
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