Wildwood’s Historic Preservation Commission spent the bulk of its meeting on an extended visioning session for the city’s historic preservation plan, identifying outreach priorities, program ideas and near-term engagement opportunities.

Consultants Marsha Boyle and Laurie Matthews led commissioners through a discussion of themes that emerged from prior public input and the draft existing-conditions report. Commissioners and staff flagged four recurring priorities: expanding interpretive plaques across the city, boosting youth-focused programs, advancing the African American history trail and better communication through social media and in-person events.

Commissioners praised the history tent and community outreach at festivals, where one-on-one conversations drew new volunteers and interest. Commissioner Schoenfeld said the tent and in-person programming are persuasive tools for public engagement. Several commissioners urged expanding the marker program; one participant cited multiple unmarked neighborhood cabins discovered during a tour and recommended dozens more plaques to document vanished communities across Wildwood’s 66-square-mile area.

Commissioners suggested development of student-centered initiatives — children’s books, middle and high school involvement and student task forces modeled on prior Route 66 efforts — and prioritized partnerships to reach younger audiences.

Staff updated the commission on related projects and milestones. Director Vinich reported that a nomination for the Missouri River Freedom Crossing (including Archer Alexander and 16 men) was submitted to the National Park Service on July 15; staff said formal review by the Park Service typically returns a decision in late fall. The commission also heard that the city will partner with neighboring communities to show the Cars films as Route 66–themed family movie nights and that Eureka has offered to lend a movie screen and audio equipment for a screening tied to next year’s back-to-school event.

The commission discussed outreach logistics for two upcoming events: a Back-to-School Party on Friday, Aug. 15 (volunteer shift times beginning about 4 p.m.) as a primary youth-engagement opportunity, and Celebrate Wildwood, a larger all-day event where the commission plans both a tent and a parade presence. Organizers said they need additional volunteers and a “floater” to engage attendees away from the tent, including at the Wildwood Historical Society and local church booths.

Commissioners noted progress on a planned United States Colored Troops marker for Babler State Park’s Western Greenway; state park staff and the regional director remain engaged and interested, but staff said a memorandum of understanding will likely follow trail development. The commission also reported that a citizen oversight group reviewing the city’s master plan update has informally endorsed a broader historic preservation goal and a related implementation objective.

Staff reminded commissioners that several meeting dates next month were moved a week earlier, and that the commission’s materials indicate the American History Trail project work will resume in earnest in 2026 after the citywide preservation plan is complete.