Planning for a community's future can be a difficult, time-consuming and costly job. Community residents are often more concerned with their daily routines than with thinking about a vision for their community's future. Residents want good schools, decent jobs and a safe and clean environment in which to live. Without a vision, however, communities limit their ability to make decisions about these issues - somewhat like driving across the country without a roadmap.

Who should determine a community's future?

Should it be a consultant hired by the local government to develop a plan, or should it be a government agency making decisions about a new road, or perhaps a private developer constructing some condominiums? All these could have a large impact on a community's future.

A group of individuals in the community may be making decisions about the community's future without input from a broad range of residents. Residents need to take an active role in the determining the future of their community - or other groups and individuals will determine it for them.

[Text adapted from Building our future: a guide to community visioning by Gary Green, Anna Haines, Stephen Halebsky http://s142412519.onlinehome.us/uw/pdfs/G3708.pdf]

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