Read about the passions and work of other communities involved in visioning processes and the difference it has made in their communities. 

Read about their challenges and successes, and draw inspiration and “know-how” as you work on your community vision and plan for action.

To find out more about Community Visioning initiatives happening elsewhere, have a look at the examples provided below:

City of Alexandria

A Long-Term Vision and Action Plan for Arlandria Neighborhood

The Arlandria planning effort was initiated in January 2002 following the work of the Upper Potomac West (UPW) Task Force. During their review of the specific recommendations of the Safeway/Datatel sites and the East Reed Avenue properties that were the focus of the Task Force Report, the City Council recognized the need to develop an overall vision for the Arlandria neighborhood and a plan to direct and guide its future development.  The Council approved a multi-faceted approach that included the creation of a vision and direction to revitalize the area in the long-term, while identifying immediate community concerns and addressing those concerns in the short and mid-term in order to stabilize and strengthen the neighborhood.

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Dunbar Community Visions Program

The Dunbar Community Vision directions were approved by Vancouver City Council on September 10, 1998.  The Vision directions were developed by people who live and work in Dunbar, with the assistance of City staff.  They will be used at City Hall to help make decisions affecting Dunbar, and to set priorities for funding, programs and services, and in the community to guide local actions.

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Community Visioning - Palau

The Palau Conservation Society (PCS) is promoting the development and implementation of local land use planning to ensure development occurs in a sustainable manner. Top-down, government centered land use planning is difficult in Palau where local communities own most of the resources. Thus, PCS has initiated the Community Visioning Project to create community support for land use planning efforts. Community-based facilitators are being trained in leading their communities through the process of drafting and adopting a Vision Statement and Strategic Action Plan for their states. PCS is also working to ensure that there is national and developer-level support for these Community Vision Statements.

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Community Visioning - Slater, Iowa

Slater is a small rural community near Ames, Iowa, a university town. 

In selecting Slater as a visioning community, the program team recognized a holistic approach to the current landscape needs of the entire community is timely.  Furthermore, the large size of the community visioning committee, 18 members, illustrated many Slater residents were eager to participate in this crucial first step to launching a successful and sustainable community landscape. The staff of the visioning program did indicate to the community that conducting a comprehensive community tree inventory and writing city ordinances are beyond the scope of the program, but that the need for these would be looked at and responded to in the visioning process.

The Community Visioning Program is delivered by Iowa State University, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and Trees Forever. For assistance, contact:

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CityPlan Community Visioning

In 1995, Vancouver City Council adopted CityPlan, a city-wide plan that provides a framework for deciding City programs, priorities, and actions over the next 20 years. CityPlan includes directions on a range of topics, from transportation to arts, housing to community services.

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Maine State Planning Office

Maine's "Community Visioning Handbook: How to Imagine and Create A Better Future" is a detailed how-to guide.  Before there can be a meaningful comprehensive plan, residents must agree on a mental picture of what they want the community to look like, feel like, and be like. They must imagine what people walking along Main Street should experience; imagine the sidewalks and bike trails and roads for cars and trucks; picture the parks and nature preserves; and identify the best places for new houses and what those houses might look like. This mental picture is a "vision." This handbook describes what a community vision is (Part 1), provides a step-by-step guide to creating a community vision (Part II), and gives an example of a vision from one Maine community (Part III).

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