“Municipalities live from the traffic that flows through them,”
– Aaron White, Director of Community Development for the City of Eau Claire
On Thursday, August 22, 2024, the Avenues of Possibilities Tour continued its statewide road trip to Eau Claire, where they spoke with community members about their ideas for improving the city, focusing on the important role that road infrastructure plays in making those ideas a reality. With the theme “All roads lead to roads,” the discussion will focus on how road infrastructure impacts everything from economic development to safety.
The tour concluded its visit to Wausau the previous evening with a welcome from Wausau Mayor Doug Diny. Panel discussions included key leaders from a variety of sectors, including the Chamber of Commerce, small business, economic development, infrastructure and transportation.
“Communities depend on the traffic that flows through them,” says Aaron White, director of community development for the City of Eau Claire. “We see that the majority of people who are not from the community are using the city’s amenities and resources, so being able to move those people efficiently through the community is very important.”
After the panel concludes, there will be an open discussion where attendees will talk to the panelists about what important issues they would like to address in their communities. Top issues include improved sidewalks, increased involvement of minority groups and business owners, improved food options, and promoting affordable housing.
At the end of the evening, an interactive workshop is organized where participants can write down their ideas for improving the city. The ideas are then collected and saved. The tour reviews recurring problems encountered at each site and sends the community resources related to the input.
The tour will finish its roadshow in Green Bay and Kenosha in September. More information about the tour can be found HERE.
Photos from the event “Avenues of Possibility, Wausau”
