Plan Cincinnati, the city's ongoing comprehensive plan process, is involving young people in a creative way. A program called "Planting the Future" asks children to voice their fears, hopes and dreams about the future of the city and its infrastructure. What they're telling city planners is providing helpful insight that planning officials say will guide the city's growth, protect the environment, and influence the future.
The city's Department of Planning and Buildings initiated a contest for Cincinnati Public School students to paint flowerpots, write essays, create multimedia presentations, or create a visual art project that reflects their ideas about the type of city they want to live in.
"They are the people we need to hear from because they are the future," said Margaret Wuerstle, the Chief Planner of Cincinnati and leader of Planting the Future. "In 10 or 20 years, they are going to be in the position of living in the city, raising families, and opening business. Sometimes they seem to be the overlooked part of the comprehensive plan, but they think very different from a 45 year old person."
Children expressed concerns through their projects, including the importance of transportation, cleanliness, creation of more parks, safety, and diversity. The pictures and words depicted on the flowerpots varied from project to project. Some students even managed to create solutions to their fears.
"We had a child paint pollution on the inside of the flowerpot and he then painted solar panels, trees, and wind turbines on the outside of the flowerpot," Wuerstle explained. "He came up with a solution to his fear, which was very impressive."
In order to get the children to understand how to think about the city, Planting the Future used the analogy of a vacation. Students were asked to answer questions about different components of a vacation. For example, how will one travel, how much money will be needed, and what type of lodging does one desire? This allowed the students to start thinking about the city they desired, Wuerstle explained.
Planting the Future hopes that the children will remember this project in the future and see some of their comments incorporated into the comprehensive plan. Wuerstle said that the city plans to exhibit the flowerpots with a milk and cookie reception. Future projects include involving the elderly by taking the project to assisted living residents and see the other side of the spectrum.
Writer: Lisa Ensminger
Photgraphy provided.
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