2008-07-29
- catch the Weston Shopping Bug
MU students Laura Blood and Matt Taylor focused on a "Shop at Home" campaign. Their project was to try to bridge the gap between businesses in Weston and the potential customers who live in the area.
In surveys, Blood and Taylor found that residents would shop in Weston if more products were available. People said businesses had good or excellent customer service and were friendly. They wanted more stores, variety and better prices.
The two said merchants needed to let shoppers know what was in it for them - keeping money in town, feeling pride in their community, and knowing that merchants love the town, not because it is a very lucrative economy.
Playing off the former logo for Weston, the students designed a lightning bug logo with the phrase "Catch the Weston Shopping Bug! Keep Our Hometown Buzzing!"
Possible campaigns include a rewards program, "Show the Glow/Second Saturday Kickoff," a firefly catching contest and a "Where's Wally" scavenger hunt.
- Weston Beautification Awards?
A few worthy candidates come to mind:
-Walnut and Cherry - total house renovation!
-Walnut and Rock - front porch addition!
-Main and Market - historically sensitive design!
2008-07-11
- Weston Community Connectivity Initiative -
The WCCI - More to follow, but this one is already in the works! Basically, because Mr. Bill Vernon of Weston inspired me to try to make it happen, we're getting some much needed sidewalks in town, both for safety and recreation. 80% of the cost of the sidewalks will be paid for by MODOT and their Transportation Enhancement Grant!!!
Thanks MODOT!
-Washington Street will be getting a sidewalk, west side, from the Superintendent's office to the Depot!
-Walnut Street will be getting a sidewalk, from Cherry Street to Citadel Drive!
Washington Street Section
Walnut Street Section
- Return of the River - The Reclamation of Kickapoo Island -
Did you know that the Corps of Engineers is 'onboard with and ready to fund' a project that would open back up a chute of the Missouri River, following the same path that the river flowed back in Weston's river port days?
Yeah, it's true!!! I first contacted the Corps about 3 years ago, presenting the idea to their committee under their 'Missouri River Mitigation Project" branch. In short, this branch of the Corps of Engineers has been given the charge of restoring many parts of the Missouri River back to it's 'natural state', which is to say restoring historic chutes and wetlands.
They are extremely excited about this project, they've already aquired a couple hundred acres out of the approximately 2000 acres needed.
Facts:
-They want to do it.
-They will only buy land from willing sellers.
-They can only offer 'fair market value' for the land.
Some of the land is owned by non-locals who only consider the land an investment, and they would sell if they were offered the right price.
However, some of the land is owned by local Westonites, and their families have farmed that ground for generations. If a project like this were to happen, I think we as a town would be remiss to not seize the opportunity to honor those families and their contributions to Weston!
-FYI- for those of you who don't understand hydrology;-), which included me up until 3 years ago, this project would NOT make Weston more vulnerable to flooding. Weston is currently only vulnerable to flooding via backwater at Bear Creek, and that would remain the same. If this project happened in fact, more wetlands like this one along the river would actually help alleviate the severity of flooding by allowing the river to 'escape' it's current banks in a controlled manner.
My original SITEPLAN, present to the Corps of Engineers
old Fort Leavenworth map, but it shows Weston and Kickapoo Island
- 'Port of Weston' Park -
Did you know that the Corps of Engineers is 'onboard with and ready to fund' a project that would open back up a chute of the Missouri River, following the same path that the river flowed back in Weston's river port days?
It's true!!! And if the 'Return of the River' project happened, a park like this could be the next project for the Weston Park Board! What a great amenity for the town. Riverside trails, picnics, biking, canoe launching, etc.!!! wow!
various recreational activities!
a very old sketch of the original 'Port of Weston'!
a more recent painting by Ernst Ulmer, depicting our River history!
2008-07-05
- a 'Weston Towne Plaza'
I've been getting lots of feedback, lot's of people want to see SOMETHING civic happen at the corner of Main and Market. Many of the suggestions have been for a Community Center of sorts; a pool or spraypark for kids, a banquet facility for wedding and reunions, a tobacco/river heritage museum, etc.
what a great location for family reunions, weddings, and mini-conventions!
First, let's finish repaving the roads in town (haha),
but after that, We, as a community, have an exciting opportunity to create a citizen space right in the heart of Historic Downtown Weston!
The trailer park and old laundromat buildings have reached the end of their useful life and the property owner has graciously offered the property
as a blank slate to the City of Weston.
This website is intended to be a starting point for discussion, and to get started I am offering one possible solution to restoring some new life to the south end of Main Street:
The civic buildings of a town identify the symbolic and ceremonial heart of a city.
The Weston Civic Plaza, could group together new City buildings, a Platte County History Library-Education Annex, a Platte County Tobacco History Museum and Weston Chamber of Commerce to create a 'town square' that honors not only the history of Weston and it's past citizens, but also provides a useful space for the current and future citizens of Weston.
The Weston Civic Plaza could also serve as a formal gathering space for:
-COMMUNITY EVENTS, group fundraisers(bakesales, plant sales, raffles).
-APPLEFEST OUTDOOR MUSIC, let's give a proper setting for some of Weston's amazing local talent; Connie Dover, Mason Brown, Kirk Lynch, etc.
-MAYOR'S CHRISTMAS TREE lighting ceremony.
-WESTON COMMUNITY THEATER outdoor performances.
-PARK BOARD flower sale.
-A HOMEBASE for the Lewis & Clark Run/Walk, Wheel to Weston, and Memorial Walk.
-COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT, bring your lawn chairs and popcorn.
-WESTON HISTORY MURAL with scenes depicting Riverboat traffic and Tobacco farming.
-A FOUNTAIN, ground-bubbler type for kids (and adults) to run through.
-And anything else you can imagine for a town square!!!
Please scroll through the images below and feel free to share your opinion and vote whether or not you think Weston should seize this opportunity!
I encourage you not to get stuck on the 'details' at this point, the design of the building and proposed programming for the space is simply meant as a starting point. Use the 'comments' option or email me to suggest your ideas/alternatives!!!
feel free email me at idreamofweston@gmail.com
Thanks, Greg Hoffman - Alderman - Ward I
a place for a plant sale!
for those hot summer days!
for those cold Christmas nights!
Weston Community Theater - outdoors!
Applefest music, Connie Dover!
Movie night, bring your lawn chairs and popcorn!
MAIN FLOOR PLAN, maybe, your ideas are WELCOME!!!
What would you like to see here?
SECOND FLOOR, maybe a banquet facility for weddings and family/class reunions?!!!
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