Members of the Civic Improvement Committee have stayed pretty busy this summer!  In June, along with our Conservation Committee, we made a presentation to the Tree Commission asking that they focus their tree mitigation funds on shade trees in lieu of palm trees since shade trees provide so many benefits that palm trees do not.  Also, palms are much more susceptible to disease and require more maintenance than shade trees.  We will be planning how to follow up with the Tree Commission when we reconvene in September. 

We also had a small group that met with the Mayor’s Chief of Staff in June to advocate for hiring a world-class designer to design the entire riverwalk from the Landing all the way to Metropolitan Park.  Our goal is to get it done beautifully and soon to more closely coincide with the opening of the Four Seasons.  Our suggestion to take a more holistic approach was well-received and we were encouraged to meet with the head of the Parks Department which we did.  We were happy to discover that the Parks Department shares our desire for a well-designed, shaded, wide river walk.  A follow up meeting between Late Bloomers civic and the Chief of Staff has also been scheduled. 

Members of the Civic Improvement Committee also have been actively supporting Riverfront Parks Now.  As members of RPN, we have been appearing at public meetings and advocating for our position behind the scenes.  Not only have we been advocating for the completion of the Landing park without a tower development but we also have been asking city leaders to focus downtown revitalization efforts on the historic core and particularly Laura Street from City Hall to the Landing.  Late Bloomers have been advocating for Laura Street for a long time and we are continuing to do so.