The City of Red Deer has created a new website promoting great neighbourhoods.
The launch of Red Deer Connects coincided with Great Neighbourhood Week, which runs May 10 to 16, to encourage residents to discuss ways to improve community life.
“It’s a tool for us to get information out to the public about some initiatives that we’re pursuing around great neighbourhoods,” said Pauline Mousseau, neighbourhood community development co-ordinator with the city.
“The intent initially is to be a gateway for that information but there’s potential that it will become an ongoing website that will be a portal of information for community life, basically.”
The site feature that Mousseau highlighted is the Great Neighbourhood Input Survey, which was posted Monday and will be accessible until June 18.
The survey asks residents to provide feedback on a variety of topics, including neighbourhood participation, community-based programming, the role of community associations, safety, land use planning and generally what makes a neighbourhood great.
“It is really a platform for us to get some information out to the community and even gauge from the community what their interests, concerns and needs are around enhancing their life and their neighbourhood,” Mousseau said.
“Really, we want to look at the survey results and maybe get confirmation that we’re maybe heading in the right direction with some of these ideas but also get new ideas that may come from it.”
She anticipated that the general survey results will be ready by September and will most likely being posted on the Red Deer Connects website as well as in a presentation to city council sometime in the fall.
“Basically it’s a valuable communication tool for people to find out what’s going on and for community associations to be able to communicate with the members of the neighbourhoods they live in,” said Bill Orchin, past president and current volunteer director with the West Park Community Association.
He hopes the site will inspire residents to not only share their opinions of what makes a great community but to also get involved with their community association in an effort to help create a thriving neighbourhood.
Red Deer Connects is currently providing information about a number of community associations who are teaming up for Green Deer activities May 15 and 16 with a wind up barbecue and dance party scheduled for Sunday at Bower Ponds.
The Neighbourhood Facilities and Community Development area of the City of Red Deer’s Recreation, Parks and Culture department teamed up with the various community associations to create Red Deer Connects, which is modeled after efforts being made in Halifax and Edmonton to foster great neighbourhoods.
Red Deer Connects can be accessed at www.reddeerconnects.ca.
ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com