Aledo residents get first crack at shaping city’s future

Former Mayor of Aledo Kit Marshall reviews the board concerning transportation and places a sticker on what is important to her during an open house April 23 at the City of Aledo.

Larry Colvin, left, President of the Weatherford Mountain Bike Club, visits with a member of the Freese & Nichols staff during an open house April 23 at the City of Aledo.

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By the end of the evening April 23, around 60 people had visited several interactive stations and spoke to consultants from engineering design consultant Freese & Nichols and city staff on everything from traffic to housing to downtown that will help shape the comprehensive plan. 

“There are several engagement opportunities planned and an online survey the community can take part in,” said Wilson Kerr, planner and project manager with Freese & Nichols. “The feedback will play a key role in shaping the comprehensive plan.”

The online survey will be available until June 9, Kerr added, and is available at https://fni.mysocialpinpoint.com/aledo-comprehensive-plan. Also on the site, you can track progress and see what’s being considered, share ideas, and participate in interactive maps. 

The comprehensive plan is essentially a guide for how Aledo progresses as a city when it comes to neighborhoods, parks, roads, and other public spaces, Kerr said. 

Among those attending the event was former Aledo mayor Kit Marshall, who is no stranger to what hearing from residents means to leadership.

“It’s always important to be actively engaged in where you live,” she said while placing stickers on the board of what mattered to her and writing notes at the transportation station. 

Also weighing in was Larry Colvin, President of the Weatherford Mountain Bike Club, who has been working with the city to advocate for more trails. Colvin said that even those who may not want to ride the trail can still come with their family and while one rides, the others can shop and eat.

“A strategic goal for the club is to have a trail that connects the Parks of Aledo with downtown,” he said. “That way, people can park downtown and bike the trail and then stay and enjoy downtown.”

Aledo Mayor Shane Davis noted he was pleased with the “great turnout.”

“I am happy the community is concerned about what we’re doing,” he said. “It helps us not be in a vacuum of only thinking we know what everyone wants.”

As for the preliminary results of what he saw on the various boards as he walked around, Davis said many of the items raised confirmed what he thought. 

“Specifically, what we want is for people to come here [to Aledo] and stay here,” he said. “What can we do to keep them here and not got to neighboring cities to get what’s missing?”

In addition to the stations, a video presentation was scheduled to be shown on a loop throughout the event. Due to technical issues, however, that wasn’t available but it can be viewed online. 

The next scheduled open house is slated for mid-September.