TEDxCLE and how we can make this place better

TEDxCLE took place this past Friday.  While not there in person, I was able to pick up a lot of the great ideas and energy through Twitter.  Over the weekend, I took a look at some of the presenter’s sites with The Shrinking Cities Institute from Kent State University’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative leaving me intrigued with their project.  Browsing through their documents and links I came away with the following points about Cleveland, Northeast Ohio and how we can make this a more enjoyable place for now and the future.

#1 – Shrinking Cities Institute – I’m not sure if I should be happy or ashamed to not know of this project before. Check their site out and the materials they provide.  It’s a very progressive and refreshing way to look at the situation that Cleveland and other cities are currently going through.

#2 – Small is ok – You are not going to overhaul a city all at once (if ever) – In my ignorant view there is nothing wrong with having a smaller city that is loaded with tremendous resources and opportunities.  Cleveland (NEO for that matter) will never, ever be a Chicago or New York caliber city.  So instead of dwelling on massive changes and resources that other cities have, we (the collective we) should concentrate on our own positive resources and look towards our potential. A concentration of valuable arts, restaurants, communities and more can be perfect for this region.

#3 – One step or block at a time – So pick your battles and keep chipping away – The Vacant Land re-use pattern book is inspiring.  It’s full of projects of various sizes and costs that neighborhoods and communities can take on to improve their surroundings.  I’m left wondering what next steps would I be able to take to make a difference around here.  Perhaps a future post, but right now there are amazing resources in NEO to make this a better place and it’s encouragin to see these resources are waiting for us to use.

Example of Community Garden