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On First Wednesday on May 5th, the City’s Committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI) began a project that ultimately aims to help Forest Grove residents define and strengthen their neighborhood communities.   Ultimately, the City of Forest Grove is striving to find ways to communicate with the people in the community more effectively. 

You may have seen us – or more likely not been able to avoid us – as we asked people to put a dot on a map where they live and give some feedback about their neighborhood.   We also asked people if they might be willing to be a communication liaison between their neighbors and the City.  The idea is that liaisons can be an additional link for neighborhoods to get information about happenings in the community, particularly those that pertain to their area.  However, at this point we are still trying to define what that might look like.

It was exciting that over forty people filled out a survey that represented families, employees, and friends of Forest Grove.  They were happy to talk to us a little bit about the activities that their neighborhood does to foster community:  cookie exchanges at Christmas, Fourth of July Picnic, Dumpster Cleanup Days, Neighborhood garage sales, and there were a lot of barbeques that involved just good food and conversation. 

People wanted to see more sidewalks, less peacocks, and an expansion of neighborhood watch where they lived.    People who lived outside of the city limits added some extremely important insight into the fact that they need to be included in the communication loop although they may not receive the flyers in the utility bills.  People who didn’t live in Forest Grove but worked here felt a sense of belonging and wanted to give their input as well. One thing that was apparent no matter where people lived is that everyone seemed to value the idea of a community where neighbors know each other, help each other, and have some fun together once in awhile.