Commentary: Reports Shed Light On Ideas For Rogers' Future

Reports -- we got 'em, and I am still trying to wrap my head around what they say.

It has been a report-heavy couple of weeks for Rogers residents. First, the Vision 2030 report came out, that from Market Street Services. It deals with big picture stuff for Rogers and Lowell, like how we want things to look in 2030.

Then came the Gateway Planning report for downtown Rogers redevelopment. You know, how we would like downtown to look before 2030.

Vision 2030 has a downtown segment, so let's start there.

The proposal least likely to happen, I suspect, but still one of the best ideas, is to erect some kind of barrier to visually block industrial areas adjacent to downtown.

Basically, that's the Tyson plant on Arkansas Street. No offense meant to Tyson. After all we appreciate the jobs. But that plant is not exactly pleasing to the eye. I mean, it's a chicken plant. What can you expect?

How do you make it look better? Trees or tall shrubs growing close together? A 10-foot wooden fence the graffiti artists decorate?

I don't know, and there was no solution offered.

Another suggestion that caught my fancy is what the writers called a storefront art initiative.

This kind of sounds like tarting up the fronts of buildings with paint, but I am pretty sure that's not what it means.

Instead, I think it means encouraging building/business owners to display art that would entice people to walk along and see the exhibit. Sort of Crystal Bridges -- The Streets.

Implementing this would have its own set of challenges as you cannot -- no matter how good for their business and downtown it would be -- force an individual to participate. And there are always one or two who will refuse to do so, even if they will benefit from the others doing so.

Tacky people aside, what I envision is rotating exhibits, some locally generated like a series of photos from the Rogers Historical Museum or a touring exhibit of paintings by impressionists, even a display of art by kids drawing/painting/sculpting their ideas on a given topic.

It can't be all local, but it can't be all the work of outsiders, either.

Also listed as something to consider: the addition of a zoological park or aquarium. Granted, this was last on a list of possible amenities. Listed ahead of it was "support use of the AMP" -- seriously? It looked pretty supported when I was there for the Santana concert, but I digress. Also on the list was to solicit residents' input on how to get them downtown, and develop passenger rail service along the Arkansas & Missouri rail line.

This aquarium idea just won't die. It doesn't seem do-able with public money. I say if someone with private funds wants to develop one, that's great. Otherwise, let's turn our thoughts to more viable options.

Moving to the Gateway report, there is talk of moving -- moving Frisco Stage, that is.

Before everyone gets all hot on that, let's stop and think.

I remember when the stage was, in fact, a portable stage, as it could be again. I never felt real secure climbing rickety steps to an equally rickety platform. That said, I had doubts when Main Street Rogers officials announced the stage would be a permanent structure in the middle of the street.

I have found the stage to be a nice, if used too little, addition to downtown. There's even a roof to protect in case of inclement weather.

An important fact to remember here is that state tax revenue helped pay for the stage. Do we really want to tear it down and, possibly, jeopardize getting any more money?

In a John Gore story about the plan, there was talk of "resurfacing" the parking lot north of the stage so it would be green. It sounded like painting it green.

No. Just no. No "resurfaced' concrete or asphalt.

If the plan is to go green, pull up the pavement and plant grass.

We are trying to draw people downtown, but not with something that will only draw laughs.

Commentary on 10/09/2014

Upcoming Events