​Civic Equity Cohorts AKA SCNA Board Members met Monday, July 24 with Partners in Participation. At this four-hour planning meeting, we discussed the future of the Southern Crossing Neighborhood Association. It turns out we have some hefty goals including building a bridge over Highway 97 between Reed Market Road and Powers to create safe passage over the highway for pedestrians and bicyclists to connect to the business district. While the goal of building a bridge is millions of dollars in infrastructure costs, we have lots of other goals too, including:

• Expanding the Parkway access
• Expanding the sewer system on Duncan
• Expanding the parking capacity at Blakely Park (there’s currently only 13 parking spots and signs along Brookswood forbidding parking on the road)
• Build a roundabout at Brookswood and Silver Lake/Blakely
• No left-hand turns on Reed Market
• Improved roundabout signage
• 25 mile per hour speed limit in Wood River Village
• Installation of speed bumps at Millwood, Blakely, Silver Lake, and Reed Lane
• Improved city planning land use
• Lower density
• Install a crosswalk at Silver Lake and Reed Market Road
• Build neighborhood association membership through programs, projects and events
• Partnering for influence through HOAs, local businesses, and better city counselor representation

 
Clearly, we need to get specific on what we can do and cannot do. As a neighborhood association we need to prioritize and pick one or two goals at a time to conquer. What’s important to you? We would love to hear from you. Some of the issues we struggle with are wide-spread Southern Crossing representation including the participation of businesses and HOAs, rapid development, and change.
 
Since neighborhood associations are participatory, the work we do depends on our individual interests and motivation of the people who get involved. In short, what you put in is what you get out. To be sure, the work to rebuild the neighborhood association and addressing important issues never ends…

E-mail your comments to southerncrossingnacomm@gmail.com
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