By Jeanne Duffy
Well a week has past since I became Director of BPCDC. The time spent packing up an entire house in Phoenix, keeping track of that yellow Penske truck with all my earthly belongings for three days and living on fast food are just a memory. However memories of my teenage years in Belle Plaine remain.
Oh, I’ve driven through downtown over the years but I am pleasantly surprised to feel the energy that still exists but is somehow obliterated by forlorn storefronts that look as if they too feel the loss of their former grandeur. The energy I feel now is in the spirit of our residents. However, hope for Belle Plaine springs (no pun intended) eternal as I learn of pending changes such as new facades, streetscape, plans to seek improvements to the back of buildings.
I must confess, coming from a city of four million people and freeways, I was definitely in the dark about the progressive activities going on in Belle Plaine. I see men and women working hard beyond their day jobs to volunteer time working on intensive projects to make Belle Plaine a better place.
I am amazed to see that the BPCDC board is a “working board” and members volunteer so much time. Innovation is alive and well with much of the money for improvements coming from grants which does not have to be repaid. I find that a cohesiveness exists here that is priceless.