Friday, April 25, 1997
ALPS students give vision for downtown
By ANTHONY WILSON
Staff Writer
Adults look at downtown Abilene and see what it is: a restored
soda fountain, a crowded library and a budding park.
Brett Grosvenor looks and sees what it can be: an ice skating
rink, brown-bag concerts and a nostalgic bandstand.
Brett was one of five, fifth-grade ALPS students who shared
their vision for downtown with the City Council Thursday. After
five months of study and research, the 95 fifth-graders in the
Abilene schools' gifted program drafted 145 "solutions"
for revitalizing the city's core.
"I thought this was pretty cool," Brett said after
addressing the mayor and council. "We're just kids, but we
were doing an adult job. It was pretty hard figuring out different
things and then how to do them."
Each year, the ALPS students undertake what is a seemingly
monstrous task. But they outdid even themselves this year.
Architect Josh Johnson proposed the project, waiting until
its completion to tell teachers Kathy Aldridge and Janna Dowell
he had once tackled the same chore - as a college senior.
Even Aldridge, who is rarely surprised by her students' talents,
was wowed by the end product.
"It was an overwhelming task and they blew us away,"
she said. "I never dreamed they would be so sophisticated."
The students offered recommendations in five areas: new businesses,
parking, special events, marketing and appearance.
For example, Allie Cook believes an ice skating rink would
be a good fit for downtown - a proposal Councilman Rob Beckham
endorsed as a "slick idea."
Brett suggested lunchtime concerts featuring local bands, church
choirs and ethnic dancers. Downtown Manager Elizabeth Grindstaff
said she's working on the idea.
Linda Hill recommended computerized kiosks offering visitors
information about downtown attractions. Jenna Carson sang the
praises of an old-fashioned bandstand for speeches and concerts,
while Korey Kennedy drove home a point that the Fulwiler Building
would make a good parking garage.
"I liked doing the research," Korey said afterward.
"Half of the stuff about this town I didn't know. It was
pretty cool. My brother never got to do anything like this."
Council members were as wide-eyed as the children after hearing
their reports.
"We should be proud of the brainpower in Abilene,"
Councilwoman Kay Alexander said.
Don Drennan added, "Mayor, I think we saved some money
this morning. We can get rid of the consultants. We've got a whole
crew here."
Some observers noted the students' ideas matched and bested
those of an urban planner the city hired to craft a downtown master
plan. Grindstaff confirmed the youngsters hit upon some of the
ideas her office has discussed.
"This was a perspective we haven't heard before,"
she said. "Their level of problem-solving was higher than
expected. The thoughtfulness of every idea was outstanding."
Kory mentioned he might someday like Grindstaff's job: "You
get to run downtown and boss people around."
Though the students slaved over the project for countless hours,
Brett said afterward that was mere child's play.
"The hardest part was talking to the council," he
confessed.
Send a Letter to the Editor about This
Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address) of This Story
to A Friend:
Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
|
