Plan 2020: Citizens of No Mean City

This post originally appeared on IndyHub's blog.

Thirty years ago it might have been hard to convince residents of “Naptown” that Indianapolis would some day host one of the World’s premiere events, the Super Bowl. It might also have been hard to convince them that Indianapolis would be recognized as a mecca for bicycle use or that Indianapolis would become an attractive urban metropolis for twenty- and thirty-somethings. My, how things have changed.

And just one example of the growing enthusiasm comes from an inscription that’s engraved in the limestone exterior of The Hall (our old city hall), a quote from former Mayor Charles Bookwalter that reads: “I am myself a citizen of no mean city.” The saying has clearly gained popularity around Indy.

Smart people and savvy groups and organizations are helping Indianapolis ride a tidal wave of positive momentum. But while great things are happening in Indianapolis, we shouldn’t rest on our laurels. As a city we have to value vision and growth, and we need a collective rallying cry that will capture the vision for the future of Indy.

Plan 2020 is a collective pioneering planning process that is defining the next century for the city. The plan will result in a visionary Bicentennial Plan that meshes community vision, values and strategy with an unprecedented, coordinated update to core city government plans.

As a collaboration between the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC), theDepartment of Metropolitan Development (DMD) and community leaders, the plan is designed to make Indianapolis a better place to live, work and visit.

One of the reasons that Indy is riding high on momentum can be attributed to the growing number of young professionals living downtown.

Generally, young professionals prefer a dense environment, rent instead of buy and want to be within walking distance of amenities and entertainment. While Indy is successfully recruiting young professionals to downtown, we are often losing these same professionals to the surrounding suburban and rural areas when they decide to have a family.

This graph illustrates the opportunity Indy has to create a plan that encourages the growing young professional population to stay in Indianapolis. We need Indianapolis to be an attractive place to live that lures young professionals and families, and Choose Indy, one of five committees that comprise Plan 2020, is part of that. But Plan 2020 needs your help, too.

Plan 2020 is using MindMixer, an online community engagement platform, to generate ideas, hypothesize new solutions, gather valuable feedback and measure the impact of a community’s contributions in a productive, two-way dialogue.

MindMixer provides opportunities for local government and citizens to collaborate by connecting our civic challenges to community problem-solvers. We want to hear what ideas you have for attracting people to live in Indianapolis.

You and your friends, family and neighbors have the opportunity to build a better Indianapolis. That input will be taken into account by Plan 2020, who is tracking the impact that your ideas will have on the community.

Indianapolis is full of bright and energetic leaders who want to build a stronger future for themselves and Indianapolis. Part of what makes living in Indianapolis so exciting is that people with ideas and enthusiasm are rewarded with the opportunity to contribute. This is your seat at the table and your opportunity to be heard.

We are all citizens of no mean city.