Public Invited To Imagine Stanley’s Future
Elevate Stanley is a community-led initiative dedicated to building a vibrant and thriving future for Stanley. They hosted their first community meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at the Sibyl Center to explore the concept of a community center. The project is currently in the idea phase, and whether it moves forward will depend on community input and future decisions.
Those attending were asked to share their opinions on six different topics. They were given color coded stickers to put on the boards based on age groups including children and youth ages 18 and younger, families with children, adults ages 19 to 54, and adults ages 55 and older. Each board also had note cards in coordinating colors for additional suggestions or for those boards that asked for a specific answer.
One board asked for input regarding designing one unique feature for the community center and what would make the center feel useful to you. The other asked if they thought a community center should be a top priority for Stanley.
Comments regarding whether the center should be a top priority were positive and had many interesting suggestions for why. They included:
* Definitely think Stanley needs a community center for kids to be able to practice sports when they want to, have a place to be social and get involved in active exercise.
* Activity is needed with everyone.
* We need a space for our community to walk, a space for young children to play in the winter.
* This will help grow, sustain, diversify our community.
* We need this to attract and retain people and families!
* The aging population needs a safe warm/cool place to stay mobile/flexible. Activity is vital to our later years. Physical rehab is getting more common too.
* It would be wonderful to have as a “something to do” option in Stanley! So often we go elsewhere because there’s more places to go and do things like swim, trampoline park, etc. Especially in winter. ND winters with kids are LONG.
* Promotes healthy lifestyle if pricing to use equipment isn’t high. Promotes connections by meeting people. Helps winter depression since there will be a place where people with or without families can get out of the house and do something even when it’s below 0. Main point, mental and physical health improvement.
One board asked those participating to specify the top four important principals that were most important to guide the design and development of the community center: accessibility for all; affordability; safety and security; flexibility for multiple uses; community-driven design; facility has regional draw; and fiscally and operationally responsible.
Another asked to rate the top two when it comes to which groups in Stanley would benefit the most from a community center: families with children, teens and youth, seniors, adults, and local clubs and organizations.
Those attending were asked to rate their top two features that matter most, selecting from wellness and fitness, social gathering spaces, youth spaces and activities, seniors’ spaces and activities, and family friendly spaces and activities.
The other board asked participants to choose their top four of what types of spaces would be the most valuable including running/walking track, fitness center, gymnasium, pickle ball courts, turf area, play area, teen area, senior area, multipurpose rooms, kitchen area and storm shelter.
The answers will be tabulated and provide further guidance for Elevate Stanley. Elevate Stanley is working with the Mountrail County JDA and Souris Basin Planning Council on this project. You can find more information on their Facebook page: Elevate Stanley and their website: https://elevatestanley.my.canva.site/elevate-stanley.
If you missed the meeting and would like to share your input, you can take an online survey at qr.link/mzsX24.