Other Issues

Although these ideas were brought forth in the Community Engagement category, the Report Team believed they belong in other Envision categories (see also The Complete List and Current Problems).

  • Tie two sides of downtown together (library and city hall with Dunn Bros and Davanni's [3]
  • Encourage more small independent businesses, Historical Society and a Golden Valley Museum. [2]
  • Better bus/transportation to get people to events and opportunities and jobs [2]
  • More walking paths and designated bike paths.
  • Non-franchise restaurants
  • Dog park
  • Develop an "Arts Corridor/Greenway" from Perpich Center to Brookview.
  • Develop links between schools and the community. Build on what we have in churches and community centers. Create a connecting vehicle.
  • Golden Valley would have linking paths for walking, biking, etc. to ensure ease and safety in negotiating many busy streets.
  • A gathering place-a commons"-is needed to identify a "downtown" or at least create a distinctive image for G.V. Several felt this area should not be like the current parking lot design of the "new" Winnetka/#55 shops area, but more pedestrian friendly, safe, for families to congregate (like with a pool). Something for all ages (not the old Brookview Center remodeled).
  • Re-route Winnetka in order to create pedestrian - friendly and identifiable downtown area.
  • Quaint, privately owned shops in present downtown Golden Valley
  • Encourage independent (no national chains) unique businesses
  • Improved connections for small business community
  • Maintain quality living/work place - viable neighborhood business linkages
  • City alerted to employee accommodations (Communication environment)
  • Gathering places that are easily accessible
  • Include restaurant, library, research center, MN gift shops, etc. in Golden Valley Historical Society
  • Upgrade current strip Mall
  • Golden Valley has it's own school system [3]
  • Demand better standards from our schools, something we question when deciding whether or not to remain a Golden Valley resident as our child reaches school-age. [2]
  • Build a public swimming pool at Brookview. [2]
  • Create a Golden Valley Community Center [2]
  • More green spaces and planting trees [2]
  • Bigger library which acts as a community center (with coffee shop, music, authors - like Crystal)
  • Reassessment of commission roles and purpose
  • Vibrant, quality neighborhood public schools
  • Keep small village feeling intact
  • Community building resource section at library
  • Add "getting to know the neighbors" to each city worker's job description
  • Perpich Center has a new large performing arts facility
  • Perpich Center has a coffee house on grounds
  • Attach meeting spaces to amphitheater
  • Small privately owned grocery store throughout G.V.
  • Create a Golden Valley school district
  • Library needs greater visibility and could be combined with a community center
  • Foster closer relationship between Breck's parent association and the Golden Valley community
  • There seems to be a decreasing overlap between those who work in GV and those who live in GV.
  • Entice younger families - Housing prices are an obstacle
  • City would provide staff and other support for neighborhood organizations that work to preserve community, support community members (i.e. seniors), etc.
  • Community supports local businesses
  • More locally-owned restaurants
  • Celebration that recognizes world holidays
  • I'd like to see city businesses encourage patronage through a coupon book or something of that sort.
  • There needs to be more retail places to promote local loyalty.
  • Keep locally owned businesses!
  • In 2014, I would be most proud if Golden Valley remained a timeless enclave of classic mid-century architecture and design. If it goes the way of so many areas, it will be a tragedy. Losing the uniqueness of Golden Valley to the desire to conform goes against the very fabric of the community.
  • The city would develop a "trading spaces" type of TV show.
  • Bigger band shell
  • More community interaction with schools / children's art / sports
  • Build a public swimming pool at Brookview
  • Esthetic street lighting
  • Inter-community transportation
  • Trolley system to move people around G.V.
  • Competitive cable options
  • Expand commons
  • Meaningful symbols (hold a contest)
  • Explore alternative ways to beautify without using harmful chemicals
  • Small business incubator
  • Arts / cultural incubator
  • Community "Happenings" book
  • More part-time jobs for seniors
  • Encourage specialty public schools, such as RSI.
  • Preserve Golden Valley wild spaces and don't make them "user" friendly.
  • Golden Valley needs to continue expanding its housing options and encouraging the maintenance/improvement of its housing stock.
  • What ever the city can do to feel more like a city and less like a suburb is what I most like to recommend.
  • Increased communication about and between various school districts and education options within our city
  • Local business should be involved in community events.
  • Minneapolis had the Neighborhood Revitalization Program in which neighbors have access to a pool of money and they determine how to spend it - fixing up a park, planting some trees, subsidizing specific public purpose housing projects, buying out a problem property, changing traffic problems. I feel this is a decent model for getting people involved - identifying some "projects" by democratic process and then gathering involvement to carryout these projects. Involvement can be encouraged by offering some "free" money for each neighborhood to start with - to apply to their goals. Giving the tax payer a chance to spend their own money and perhaps leverage their money.
  • It will be important to have many different types of housing available for different needs of people.
  • A competition would be held to design the exterior of the water tower.
  • Garbage out on the street one day a week
  • Improved connections with school districts; encourage discussion with school districts regarding Golden Valley
  • Engage disabled members of the community; enhance physical facilities to support Trevilla residents.
  • Ice arena
  • Increased library hours
  • The city should encourage families to settle in Golden Valley. Its two school districts are declining from an enrollment standpoint. The city's well being and both school systems' well being are interconnected.
  • [1]For 2014, do not land "grabs" for a larger tax base and change the current wonderful park and recreation system, but add more bike and walk trails which are inter connected (instead of sudden starts and stops and traffic areas)
  • More shops in town - grocery store
  • More financial support to keep library open more
  • Raise taxes if you need to make services available.
  • Common identity; location, publication
  • Mine the assets of the two school districts.
  • Sidewalks
  • Less apartments / multiple housing
  • Make Basset Creek canoe-able
  • A plan to slow down traffic
  • Tax incentives for small businesses
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