PICTURE THIS - A NEW VISION

Have you seen the man fishing from his golf cart at the pond in Arbour Meadows? Noticed the lawn tractor parked at Pages for All Ages? Watched the man riding his electric mobility cart down Wesley Avenue? Could this be the wave of our future? Here’s the challenge.

Let’s make Savoy a destination community, not a bedroom village of Champaign-Urbana. Let’s pause, step back and envision the values, lifestyles and experiences Savoy wants to embody and provide for its residents. Let’s define the qualities that show Savoy is unique.

As I started pondering this I looked into the concept of planned communities, garden cities, new towns, greenbelt towns, all names for towns where all of the development is determined before any construction begins. No, we don’t have that opportunity, however, some of the other characteristics of planned communities are very Savoy-like: located away from urban centers, open land, and limited commercial and industrial activities. I think there is still time visioning before random runaway growth, like kudzu, takes over our vibrant village.

How is this for a VISION:

- Savoy is environmentally focused.

- All of Savoy is connected by safe foot/bicycle paths. For those that are adjacent to busy streets, such as Curtis Avenue, there’s a barrier between the path and the street, either green or man-made.

- Golf carts are an option for transport. Monticello and Tuscola are currently considering this idea. Cerro Gordo and Sesser enacted ordinances allowing their use. Bob Woll, an alderman in Sesser, says that he can drive his electric golf cart for 25 miles on a 10-hour charge that costs $1.30. Should the foot/bicycle paths be widened to include golf cart usage?

- There is a local recycling center where chemicals, light bulbs, paints and other similar products not currently picked up by recycling can be dropped off.

- There is a yard waste drop-off as well as a compost/wood chip pick-up.

- All utility lines are buried.

- There are a number of open spaces, parks and recreational opportunities.

- There is a Village Square. (Could it be across from the Parkview Senior Apartments?)

- It is surrounded by a variety of stores and boutiques so residents can shop for necessities as well as gifts, etc.

- It is surrounded by a variety of restaurants that provide eating opportunities from ice cream cones to chef-prepared dinners.

- The open square is beautifully landscaped and offers covered and uncovered spaces where residents can sit and eat, visit, or just enjoy the outdoors.

- The open square is the focus of the village where farmers’ markets, festivals, craft fairs, fundraisers, concerts and so on can be held.

- There are a variety of housing options available for those of varying incomes.

- There is an elementary school that is also an integral part of the community, providing before and after school care, adult literacy and special interest classes, meeting room space for civic organizations and so on.

- There are health care options, religious options, civic organizations.

- Teens have a place to meet and activities there that interest them. Guitar Hero contests?

Savoy is a star but let’s make it shine brighter.