Neighbours Discuss a Vision of Spryfield

SPRYFIELD

LINDSEY KEILTY
The Halifax West - Clayton Park Weekly News

May 30, 2008

Two dozen lifelong neighbours, newcomers and recenly returned residents turned out to kick off the Spryfield community visioning project last week at the Captain William Spry Centre.

Like-minded residents at the meeting had the opportunity to voice their opinions on what they love about their community and what they'd like to see changed.

Among their wishes for the future, attendants expressed interest in increased facilities for youth, better-kept green spaces, eliminating graffiti and defining a more dense business district.

Pat MacLean of the Urban Farm Museum Society of Spryfield is a longtime resident of the area.

"This is my home and I think we have a lot to be proud of," she said, pointing out that "we have mega volunteers here."

"It would be nice to have a community so positive that our youth grow up and move back to raise their own families here," she added.

Kelly Carpenter moved to the area in September and has been substitute teaching in area schools. She recognizes that the youth of the community need more areas where they can expend energy safely.

"The kids are what excite me about Spryfield," she said.

VisionHRM is a community visioning program for HRM and an step toward implementing the regional plan. Launched in September 2006, it began as a pilot project with Fall River, Musquodoboit Harbour, and the Bedford Waterfront areas becoming the first communities to participate in the process. Their Visions and Action Plans were endorsed by Regional Council in Fall 2007, and the communities are now entering the implementation stage.

In addition to Spryfield, the Penhorn area of Dartmouth and Middle Sackville will also be improved.

The Community Visioning Process is intended to allow a community to determine its own priorities; priorities which will guide the community into the future.

"Visioning is not just about land use," explained HRM community developer Philip Hammond.

The visioning process will not only focus on land use or planning issues, but will respond to a broader range of community concerns and opportunities crossing over many of HRM's areas of program and service. The visioning process will therefore foster more meaningful problem solving and action planning.

The first step is to appoint a group of about 10 people the Community Liaison Group. Interested residents can apply to be a part of the group until June 6. The committee will have a direct input in determining a 25-year plan for Spryfield.

"This is a process in which the plans can be tailored to fit the community, versus a one-size-fits-all appraoch," said Andrew Wittemore, manager of community relations and cultural affairs for the municipality.

Once a Community Liaison Group is selected for the Spryfield area, the committee will set up a schedule of regular meetings. Information about meetings - dates, locations and times - will be posted at www.halifax.ca/visionHRM/Spryfield/Meetings.html.

Meetings of the CLG will be open to the public and other community stakeholders.

For more information about VisionHRM events in Spryfield, call Philip at 490-6577 or Marcus at 490-4481.

lkeilty@hfxnews.ca

30/05/08