Rst 341 Final Draft
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COMMUNITY PROFILE Authored by: Ryan McGrath - Lead Consultant Debra Barnish - Formatting and Integration Consultant Blake Changnon - Visual Representation Consultant Jason Wong - Formatting and Integration/Visual Representation Consultant 4 Acknowledgements We would like to thank everyone on the City of Pontiac's leadership team for welcoming us with open arms to their city and allowing us learn and grow from this proposal. We would like to thank our teaching assistant, Chungsup Lee, for all of his hard work and dedication in helping class go smoothly each and everyday. Lastly, we would like to thank our instructor, Jonathan Hicks, who taught us everything we needed to know to complete this proposal. Jonathan’s dedication to class and helping each of us is greatly appreciated. We would not be where we are today without him. Introduction Recreation and tourism based amenities are the best catalysts to build a sense of community for residents and visitors alike because these experiences bring people together through shared experiences, fostering a sense of belonging and interconnectedness that we all innately strive for. By building an authentic, one-of a kind sense of community within Pontiac, residents’ quality of life will improve, tourists will create memorable experiences and a strong sense of place attachment, and the city of Pontiac will benefit economically. We are proposing that a 6.5 trail system, redesigning the Route 66 Courtyard, developing the Vermillion Plaza, and special programs such as tours and festivals will encompass Pontiac’s unique history and culture, and will improve Pontiac’s recreation and tourism offerings in a way that fosters a true sense of community and will produce economic benefits for the city of Pontiac. This document will be broken into seven sections. The community profile chapter will lay the framework as to what Pontiac currently consists of, what they are doing well and what needs to be improved. The vision development chapter will show the specific project descriptions and give visual representations for each project. The programming chapter will 5 develop special events and program plans. The community engagement chapter will develop marketing strategies, and create promotional materials. The monitoring, maintenance, and safety chapter will establish monitoring protocols, create a maintenance plan, and establish safety protocols. The finance and budget chapter will show the costs as well as revenue projections for these projects, and the future projects chapter will explain opportunities for Pontiac to continue growing well after these projects are implemented. We believe that the content presented throughout this document will greatly improve the recreation and tourism based opportunities in Pontiac. This will help bolster Pontiac’s reputation as a premier tourist destination and provide greater recreation based services for Pontiac residents of all demographics. These projects will not only have a positive economic impact on Pontiac, but also have a positive social impact on Pontiac by creating a sense of community among residents and a strong sense of place attachment among tourists. Vision/ Mission/ Goals/ Objectives ● RST 341 Class Definition of Community ○ A community is a group of individuals who support each other in working towards common goals and interests, brought together by common experiences. ● Proposed Vision Statement for the City of Pontiac, IL ○ The City of Pontiac will become a destination for new beginnings. ● Mission Statement for RST 341 ○ To develop projects that will bring together Pontiac residents and visitors. ● Goals ○ To bring new ideas into the City of Pontiac ○ To foster and enhance the sense of history in the City of Pontiac ○ To help residents and tourists alike appreciate what Pontiac has to offer 6 ○ To encourage growth and improvement in the City of Pontiac ● Objectives ○ Research and analyze existing conditions in the city ○ Propose ideas for improving existing conditions and adding new elements ○ Fully outline suggestions taking into consideration safety concerns, cost, and logistics Unless otherwise noted, all objectives will be accomplished by April 29, 2016. Selective Heritage The Name Behind Pontiac ● The area that would become the City of Pontiac were plains that were home to the Illini, Potawatomi, and Kickapoo Indians. However, it wasn't until 1837, that Livingston County was established by an act of the Illinois Congress and made the county seat. The name, Pontiac, came as a suggestion from landowner Jesse Fell, who had admired the great Indian chief. Pontiac Correctional Center ● The Pontiac Correctional Center was opened in 1871. The facility is classified as maximum security, and can house up to 2298 inmates. Currently, the jail hosts 1400 inmates, and provides jobs for 700 citizens. Despite the size and importance of this facility, it is by no means the only famous jail in Pontiac. The old jail site located near the river is just as memorable. Although this building is extremely old, closed off, and falling apart, it is still a historical landmark in the city. Chautauqua Assemblies ● These assemblies were started in 1847 by Dr. John H. Vincent. They started out as a way to help standardize religious instruction. The very first meeting was held at Lake 7 Chautauqua in New York and lasted for two weeks. Eventually, Chautauqua assemblies became more popular and spread to a variety of states. The content also expanded quite a bit to include various forms of entertainment. The first Chautauqua in Pontiac occurred in 1898 and was led by A.C. Folsom. The Pontiac Chautauqua Assembly continued until 1929. The assemblies held in Pontiac are considered by many to be some of the most successful that occurred west of Pennsylvania. Trails, Parks, Etc. ● The City of Pontiac offers ten different parks for their residents and tourists to use throughout the year. Some of the parks include the Humiston Woods Nature Center, Dargan Park, Fell Park and more. These parks offer something for everyone including trails and playground equipment, as well as basketball courts and baseball fields. In addition to the parks and amenities that currently exist, it is important to note the several historical recreation facilities. One of the most meaningful facilities is the old pool. Although this pool is now too old and unsafe be used, it is a nostalgic site for many in the Pontiac area. Many people feel a strong emotional attachment because of the 80 years worth of memories that exist there. Basketball Interest ● The City of Pontiac has had such a love for basketball that they currently host the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. This tournament has been the nation’s oldest and best High School basketball tournament for the past 85 years. The City of Pontiac has such enthusiasm for basketball that they are teaming up with Illinois Basketball Coaches Association to create the Basketball Museum of Illinois, which will house their Hall of Fame and offices. The 8 new museum will be located at Pontiac's Vermillion Plaza within the former KMart building. Route 66 • Route 66 was commissioned in 1926 and is considered by many to be one of the most famous highways in the world. Commonly known as the “Mother Road,” Route 66 links Illinois to California while passing through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Naturally, this highway played a major role in the country’s history, and even crossed paths with Abraham Lincoln’s history as well. Various towns along the route embrace the history of the highway and do their best to preserve these attractions. Pontiac is no exception. The town is especially connected with Route 66 and does all it can to highlight the history and culture surrounding the classic highway. There is a museum devoted to the route and the era it embodied, as well as the iconic Route 66 mural. Although the route is not commonly used for technical travel, 250,000 people drive the route each year for the historic significance and attractions. 9 Analysis of Existing Conditions ● Murals on Main Street: Throughout the city of Pontiac there are various murals on display. Each of these murals was painted by a group of artists known as the Wall Dogs. In just four days during the summer of 2009, the artists finished eighteen murals. Perhaps the most well known mural is the Route 66 shield. This mural is located on the back of the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame. All of the murals are visible from the car and can easily be accessed on foot. There are mural guides available in several museums, as well as red footprints that will guide visitors to all the murals. RCA Victor - Artists: Bernie Gietal, Bernie Sidewalk Shark - Artist: Tang Dongbai Lohmeyer, and Bernie Poff 1926: Route 66 and Pontiac Auto - Artist: Tang Daniels Oil Co. - Artist: Diaz Sign Art Dongbai 10 ● Route 66 Mural: The Route 66 mural, aside from being the largest, is probably the most well known mural in the town. This mural depicts the Route 66 shield on a backdrop of various city skylines. A red ribbon across the shield says ‘Pontiac, Illinois.’ The mural is located on the back of the Route 66 museum. This mural is so iconic that it was featured in a National Geographic calendar. ● Museums and Exhibits ○ Route 66 Museum and Hall of Fame: This museum is home to numerous pieces of memorabilia from the era of Route 66. Visitors can learn about the history of Route 66, as well as the history of the nation during the time of Route 66. The importance of this historic national byway is highlighted 11 by the different artifacts and stories on display at the museum. The museum also includes two vehicles that were owned by Bob Waldmire. ○ Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum: The Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum was opened in the summer of 201.