WHAT DO YOU WANT?
What do you get when combine interactive maps with representative democracy? The answer is something like the City of Springfield’s new “You Plan It” map, which gives residents a chance to tell the city what they want to see done around town. Made possible by the clever folks at the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission, the map lets you add suggestions for new roads, sidewalks, bus service, restaurants, parks and more. So far, people have requested a Whole Foods and a Trader Joe’s near Dirksen Parkway and South Grand Avenue, new hiking trails around Lake Springfield, a sidewalk at the start of Wabash Avenue in Jerome, a handful of new baseball stadiums and more affordable housing around the city. This being Springfield, of course, several new restaurant ideas have also been added to the map. The data will help the city decide where to focus its efforts for transportation, economic development and more. The initiative runs through the end of the year. To check out the map or add your own ideas, visit www.springfield.il.us/youplanit.
Comments