Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Beautification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Consultants report 294 respondents and design themes in Page downtown beautification presentation
Summary
Norris Design told the Page City Council on Oct. 8 that 294 people responded to the first public survey for the downtown beautification project; major themes included pedestrian safety, shade/trees, family-friendly spaces and honoring Navajo heritage. Consultants will present two design options after a second engagement starting Nov. 1.
Norris Design presented preliminary results of the downtown beautification and revitalization project to the Page City Council on Oct. 8, reporting 294 survey responses and a broad set of community priorities.
Claire Edelman Heath, a consultant with Norris Design, told the council that of 294 respondents, 239 identified as Page residents, 23 as business owners, and 74 reported working downtown; 127 respondents provided open-ended comments. She said 63% of respondents expressed clear enthusiasm for the project, while 26% offered mixed or neutral views and 11% asked the city to retain the status quo.
“Our goals in this first engagement were to share the kit of parts from the federal funding and to understand preferences across the project area,” Edelman Heath said. “We heard strong interest in pedestrian friendliness and safety, more natural shade from trees, family-friendly spaces, and design elements that represent Page and Navajo heritage.”
The consultant summarized recurring requests for clearer wayfinding and better visibility of downtown destinations, and noted low in-person turnout at a recent town hall despite strong online engagement. She said the project team will open a new public engagement phase on Nov. 1 that will include two alternative design concepts and targeted outreach to younger residents and downtown business owners.
Council members suggested several outreach tactics. Councelor Hammond urged linking engagement to school and sports calendars to reach families and younger residents, and Councelor Roundtree recommended taking advantage of the upcoming balloon riatta to capture visitors’ impressions and broaden input from people who regularly visit Page.
City staff and the consultant said they will post high-level survey results to the project website and produce a more detailed summary for the next round. The consultant also said the team will work with the city to increase independent engagement with business owners and adjust survey design to allow multiple selections where respondents had technical trouble.
Next steps: Norris Design will prepare two design options incorporating the feedback and present them in the November engagement period; staff will work on outreach timing tied to local events and will return to the council with design alternatives in the coming months.
