Ward 1 Public Space

Ward 1 currently suffers from a general lack of neighborliness, possibly due in part to the economic diversity between what are essentially the two halves of the ward. The inclusion of a public space of some kind would benefit the ward greatly in bringing the residents together in a meeting space for everyone living there. The challenge in the ward comes in space, as it is relatively tightly packed surrounding the golf course. Therefore, the best solution would be to secure as much land as possible in order to construct a public community center that includes some kind of outdoor space. The most probable location for this community center would be near the country club. This would also serve as an excellent “Welcome to Ralston” look, as the first thing you see as you cross the bridge would be a brand new community center building.

This building would serve greatly in constructing a powerful contact zone in a ward that does not have a great one: a space for people to gather for whatever purpose that they see fit, building a better sense of community and neighborliness. The space outside could also serve as a place for events and gatherings for the ward. It is due to the benefits that a Ward 1 community center and outdoor space would bring that it is worth the intrusion on the seemingly tight usage of land.

There was a previous proposal to create a community center in Ward 1 of Ralston, so if that proposal is completed then it would be highly beneficial to secure extra land outside of the building in order to include an outdoor space surrounding the building. This would give the building a better feeling of home and fitting in next to the golf course rather than just being a building with a parking lot.