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CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Port Allen Citizen's Advisory Committee has led a campaign to make Port Allen and West Baton Rouge Parish a nicer place to live and work. The goal of the committee has been to empower area residents to make better informed decisions as to the future of their community. Objectives to reaching this goal include improving Port Allen's image and livability through enhancing its aesthetic qualities, productivity and economic base. The committee was formed in 1993 and is made up of several local citizens and volunteers spanning all ranges of profession, income, race and educational background; yet they are all linked by a common vision. They all want to live in a place that embodies a greater sense of community. The first step in a plan to revitalize Port Allen was finding out what changes the residents wanted to see in the city. The two-week effort involved distribution of a questionnaire which asked basic questions about impressions of Port Allen and suggestions for possible improvements, including what kind of services the city mayor may not need. The survey results were then utilized by the committee to develop a comprehensive master plan for the redevelopment of the city. From this master plan, projects were identified and strategies were developed. The first project undertaken was the preparation of a city brochure which caters to new residents and businesses considering moving to Port Allen. The brochure was then distributed to the motel and tourist industry, as well as, local businesses and citizens. The construction of Highway One through Port Allen not only robbed its downtown of local businesses which moved to the highway's adjacent service roads, it also divided the city in half longitudinally. The committee decided that Highway One should be bridged. To accomplish this, the committee is currently in the process of constructing a linear pedestrian park and jogging path. Planting of indigenous and natural plant materials will provide for pedestrian/vehicular separation, as well as, enhance the viability of Highway One as a scenic byway. The restoration of the old Port Allen Railroad Depot and its relocation to the original site on Highway One is complete. The committee was the recipient of a $140,000 lntermodal Surface Transportation Enhancement Grant from the Federal Highway Administration for relocation and installation of the depot building. A vintage caboose was donated to the city by the Union Pacific Railroad Company and placed at the site. Activities are ongoing and have been designed to create a greater sense of community and place. These projects include programs for the Highway One Depot Welcome Center, activation of the Mississippi Riverfront with a park and interpretive center and restoration of meaningful buildings and sites within the downtown loop, and new entrance signage for entrances to the city. These projects, either proposed or currently under construction, are part of an overall master plan for the Revitalization of the City of Port Allen. Members of the Port Allen Citizen's Advisory Committee identified areas in need of improvement, acknowledged area opportunities and constraints, developed alternative solutions, and decided, as a committee, which alternatives to pursue. The committee has gone to great lengths to include as many volunteers as possible at the decision making table. The committee has successfully applied for and received over $600,000 in grant funding for community development oriented projects. It has generated a comprehensive master plan for Port Allen that will accommodate the changing needs of the community and focus on efforts to stimulate the economic base by creating incentives to draw in new businesses and tourism. The results of these projects have been a much more viable city and a sense of place that will make people proud to live here. The committee has also worked closely with non profits and other parish organizations to build a community constituency by rallying citizens around key projects. These projects have also served to promote tourism and economic development in our area. For information, contact the Mayor's office at (225) 346-5670. |
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5/14/04 10:05 PM