Even good news can present challenges.
That was the upshot from Wednesday evening’s Community Conversation sponsored by Thrive Allen County.
While everyone is excited about what Lehigh Portland State Park will bring to the area in terms of economic development, they’re also anxious about Iola putting its best foot forward. After all, we want people to make coming our way a habit, feeling there’s more to come back for.
The discussion went beyond tourism.
Communities often get into trouble when they take their local citizenry for granted.
In today’s world, young people, those with families as well as retirees have more choices of where they want to locate. Several of my contemporaries have chosen to retire in Lawrence and Manhattan, for example, because of the cultural opportunities provided by their universities.
At Wednesday’s conversation, locals voiced the same desires albeit on a smaller scale.
A recurring theme was the idea of having what is called “makerspaces” — places where people can practice their musical and artistic crafts.
The Iola library is already taking steps in that direction, announced Sharon Moreland, library director. A committee is currently studying making the library’s annex, the Flewharty House, into a venue for aspiring artists.
As far as music, “We have lots of talent in the area, but there’s no place to practice,” said Paul Porter.
Porter and his wife, Haylee Derryberry, own the newly opened Derryberry Breadery, in which they have a performance stage and have sponsored a gig or two.
Others voiced a lack of festivals, performances and other outdoor activities such as art in the park.
Though I haven’t visited with Dan Kays, director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, about it, to my mind the Bowlus can answer a lot of these questions.
Now that it’s no longer used by the local schools, its band and chorus rooms would appear great places for local musicians to practice.
And when the east entrance was renovated with an attractive plaza, the idea included it be used as an outdoor performance or display area.
