Summer 2003
PLACES: West Fresno Residents Plan Revitalization - March 27-31
 Several
hundred West Fresno residents, local community groups, elected leaders
and agency staff joined together at the end of March in a high energy
multi-day community visioning and planning process, or “charrette,”
to make West Fresno walkable, safer and more prosperous.
LGC and local nonprofit Fresno
West Coalition for Economic Development organized the charrette,
with renowned walkable communities expert Dan Burden leading the
events. Representatives from all facets of the largely Hispanic,
African-American and Asian-American neighborhoods participated.
To accommodate them, Spanish and Hmong translation was provided
at all functions. Burden noted that this was one of the most diverse
charrettes he’s seen in his experience facilitating hundreds
or community planning events over the years.
 Residents
expressed their views and hopes in focus groups, an opening community
workshop and walking tours. Later they drew their solutions on maps
at design tables. The charrette design team translated their ideas
into a vision plan for creating mixed use village centers, and safe,
pedestrian-oriented streetscapes and public spaces that encourage
people to spend time in parks and other community areas. LGC and
the design team will prepare a full report of the proceedings and
plan over the next several months and work with the community, elected
leaders and city staff to advance implementation.
Events were sponsored by a Caltrans environmental justice grant,
administered through the Council of Fresno County Governments. For
more information, contact Josh Meyer at 916-448-1198.
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