USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
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This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 24, No. 26
June 26, 2024
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
STRIVE TO THRIVE: PENSACOLA 2035
PENSACOLA BEGINS STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
By Morgan Cole
C
ity officials are seeking input from the public as part of the city’s new 10-year strategic plan, Strive to Thrive: Pensacola 2035. In December 2023, the city and Mayor D.C. Reeves hired international urban planning firm Gehl Studio out of Copenhagen, Denmark, to develop a strategic plan for the city for $125,000. The city will start the strategic planning process with the Strive to Thrive: Pensacola 2035 Visioning Survey, an online public survey that will serve as a key component in helping shape a comprehensive vision for the Pensacola. The city wants input from anyone who lives, works or visits Pensacola. The process will include citywide engagement with focus groups, extensive research into the city’s strengths, opportunities and how Pensacola can better anticipate and take advantage of global trends. Once complete, the plan will cast a vision for the next decade of investments and set key goals and priorities. Following a policy analysis phase, which explored key topics like attainable housing, active mobility and economic development, Gehl is now seeking input from Pensacola residents to help shape this strategic vision. “Before taking office, I promised we would align and collaborate behind a plan. That process starts now,” said Mayor D.C. Reeves. “The process Gehl Studio has laid
out for us includes significant engagement with individuals and groups from across our city. This additional input will ensure we hear from every part of our city to create Pensacola’s vision.” The City has recently launched the Strive to Thrive Pensacola 2035 Visioning Survey, a public online survey to provide input that will help shape the comprehensive vision for our community. Anyone who lives, works or visits Pensacola is invited to participate. The Strive to Thrive Pensacola 2035 Visioning Survey builds on the previously conducted Pensacola’s Resident Satisfaction Survey, and invites the public to share their perception of Pensacola today, and their ideas about what the future of
Pensacola should be. This survey will assist the project team in identifying priority goals and initiatives to help Pensacola become a more equitable, livable and resilient city. The Visioning Survey will be live through July 31 and will complement a series of additional community engagement efforts, including a public open house that will be held this summer for members of the community to share ideas in-person with city staff and members of the Gehl team. Pop-up surveys will also be distributed at various events held in Pensacola neighborhoods throughout the summer. Gehl is a networked urban design and research consultancy offering expertise in the fields of urban
design, master planning, strategy and city planning. Gehl addresses global trends with a people-focused approach, utilizing empirical analysis to understand how the built environment can promote well-being. Gehl’s work is based on the human dimension – the effect of the built environment on social interaction between people. Gehl considers lively and widely used public spaces to be vital keys to quality of life in cities and to overall well-being. Gehl has led city vision plans and strategies in hundreds of cities around the globe, from Buenos Aires to Charlotte to West Palm Beach. “Pensacola is growing and has numerous plans from the tapestry of public and private stakeholders that shape this city, Yet, from
our research, we haven’t found a unifying vision of what Pensacola aspires to,” Gehl Team Leader Anna Muessig said. “We feel privileged to support a process to understand the common threads that tie this city together, and together with private and public stakeholders, develop a vision to unite the city around the priority goals and aspirations for the next 10 years. We hope to see you at an open house or pop-up event in your community this spring and summer to help craft this vision together.” To stay informed about what’s happening with City of Pensacola government, visit the website at cityofpensacola.com to sign up for email or text notifications or follow @CityofPensacola on social media.■
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