Community Interactivity

It becomes more apparent with each day that one of the true purposes of Columbia is to include the community in planning and other CA activities. At a recent function entitled “Ignite Columbia,” it became very apparent that the Village Boards are trying very hard to keep the integrity of the original purpose of the plan for Columbia at the forefront of their goals and objectives.

One of the cornerstones of Village efforts is to maintain the natural beauty of the environment and make sure that potential blemishes to the Village are reduced or eliminated.

New Budget Proposal:

It is proposed that the CA Board of Directors add $100,000 to the Communitywide Grant line items that would be placed under the category of Community Aesthetics. This is a three-fold proposal that sets aside $20,000 for Village Beautification projects where a Village could make application for a grant of up to $5,000 that can be used for purposes such as to beautify specific areas; eliminate blighted areas including vacant lots in residential or commercial areas; public art work or other projects that maintain the environment or aesthetics of areas within the Village, or to provide for alternative energy sources. If there are such possibilities, two Villages could do a joint project and could apply for up to $10,000.

A program that has just been implemented calls for the development of “Neighborhood Teams,” comprised of CA Team Member volunteers who give their time and energy to help families or individual who cannot maintain the exterior of their homes or properties to within covenant standards. $5,000 would be set aside to assist families purchase paint or other yard related tools or vegetation to upgrade their properties. The funds could also be used to assist the volunteers purchase yard tools or other items that would make the jobs easier to accomplish. For liability reasons, volunteers would not be acting as agents of CA. All contacts to property owners would be coordinated through the Village Managers.

The remaining $75,000 would be set aside for community art projects such as sculpture or other artwork that would add to the aesthetics of Columbia. Community artworks would be purchased and placed in “public areas” such as Symphony Woods, the Lakefront/Plaza area, or in Village Center locations. A task force of local patrons of the arts and other interested community members would be asked to select art pieces for the community areas and the pieces would be placed in the name of the Columbia Association.

The rate of return on this investment comes in the form of improved quality of life. If the Villages use the money to make aesthetic improvements or to assist in improving a lot or lots in the Village, the investment adds value to property value of adjacent homes or businesses. Volunteer assistance also helps in human factors as well as upgrading neighborhoods.

“Those who expect moments of change to be comfortable and free of conflict have not learned their history”.
- Joan Wallach Scott