WILLMAR - When the Willmar Lakes Area 2040 initiative started in 2013, it went looking for community input and ideas about what they wanted to see happen in the region by 2040. Residents shared their ideas in meetings and on chalkboards scattered across the community.
Now Vision 2040 is again asking for community feedback as it begins planning for the next five years - as it also celebrates the successes already completed.
"We are continuing the quest for us to be the community we want to be by 2040," said Sara Carlson, member of the Vision 2040 Steering Committee.
To begin this new chapter, a gathering called the Refresh Event will be held starting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Willmar Conference Center.
"The intention of the event is to celebrate the accomplishments of the first five years and give a chance for the community to dream about what it wants," Carlson said.
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The event is open to everyone in the Willmar area. A light meal is being served, free of charge, so the group would appreciate those wanting to attend to RSVP with the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at 320-235-0300 by the end of the day Monday. People can still join in on Tuesday even if they don't RSVP in advance.
"The doors are wide open. Everybody is welcome," Carlson said.
The event will start with a short presentation on what Vision 2040 and the community has already accomplished, but will focus more on the future.
"The vast chunk of time will be for community conversations," Carlson said.
Small groups of six to eight people will gather together to discuss open-ended questions about what they would like to see in Willmar. The Vision 2040 steering committee will then collect the answers and go over them, to map out what the grassroots, community-lead organization will focus on next.
"This is the next step for this to continue," Carlson said.
The feeling in Willmar the past few months has been one of excitement, Carlson said, as major projects like the destination playground at Robbins Island and events including Rockin' Robbins have energized the community.
"This is about five years ago the destination playground was a dream and now we can take our kids to play on it. We did that, as a community," Carlson said.
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Attending the Vision 2040 Refresh Event on Tuesday is one way to be involved and to make sure things continue to move in a positive direction.
"We approach from this the perspective that there is always an empty chair at the table for those wanting to be involved," Carlson said. "Come tell us what is next."
