This is the second article in a series. The first dealt with the current effort to remove the Park Avenue cut-through from Central Park and restore it to the layout it had before 1958, when the cut-through was constructed.
Plans to reunify Central Park seem to be at the forefront of many people’s minds in Mansfield’s downtown area. We have a better understanding of what the plan is now, but do we know how the business owners and leaders around Central Park feel?
In an effort to better understand public sentiment, Richland Source conducted some unscientific research designed to provide measurable data that would help readers better understand the nature of support for, and, concerns surrounding the effort to restore Central Park. Results of the survey were mixed: some are sweet; some are sour. The graphs offer a tangible and measurable perspective.
Currently, there are 22 businesses and organizations around Central Park, of which 19 were contacted. A total of 16 responded. Fourteen of them filled out a survey, and one chose not to comment. One did not fill out a survey, but gave qualitative information via email.
The first question posed to the business owners and organization leaders was this: “Based on the information you hear today, what is your opinion about the reunification of Central Park, which will eliminate the existing road (Park Avenue) that currently splits the park into two?”
Fig. 1 shows that 47 percent of the business owners wanted more information on the project before they made a judgment. One business owner chose the “more information” and the “I support” option for one answer. Thirty-three percent thought the project to be a “bad idea.”
The next two questions were structured in a multiple choice format. Each question had a total of four options with an additional “other” option. If they chose other, they were encouraged to explain another option not listed. The questions asked business owners and leaders what the benefits and drawbacks were to the project. Below, you will see the potential benefits listed and Fig. 2 displays the results.
Benefits
Potential Drawbacks
There are two graphs representing the responses. Among the highest benefits were the possibilities of ample space for community events and being aesthetically pleasing. The drawbacks outweighed the benefits, however, with unsafe traffic flow getting the most votes. Fifty-two percent foresaw traffic being an issue.
Funding
When asked what they knew about the funding, the majority either knew very little or nothing at all, which is represented in Fig. 4. Only one person, who happened to be part of the Leadership Committee knew “A lot.” Twenty-nine percent chose the option that stated, “Mostly hearsay, no hard facts.”
After seeing these results, John Siegenthaler and other Leadership Committee members reassured readers and discussion participants that the project will be either privately or grant funded.
“I am convinced that there could be enough interest out there to fund it exclusively privately. But we can’t know until [the project] is actually officially approved by council to move forward,” said John Siegenthaler, the project’s leader.
Some business owners on the square have been in business for many years. When the carousel was constructed in 1991, there was a good deal of controversy among residents because some disagreed with the belief that it could be a catalyst for economic development, meaning they didn’t foresee it benefiting businesses monetarily.
But when asked if the implementation of the carousel generated positive growth for business in downtown Mansfield over the years, 39 percent of them agreed it did. This can be seen in Fig. 5. Of these were business owners or leaders who have either worked or lived in downtown Mansfield long enough to experience this change. “N/A” on the graph represents business owners who have not been in the area long enough to share their input on this.
Alan Wigton, committee member and supporter of the project said, ““The whole concept is meant to be a benefit to the city.” Therefore, in many ways, the reunification of Central Park reflects the motives of the implementation of the carousel.
The most consistent comment the business owners and leaders made was that they need more information. Many of them went to the initial meeting about a year and a half ago, but they said there has been minimal communication since. Some words used to describe the frequency of communication were, “Intermittent,” “No communication,” “I need updates,” “Sporadic,” and “Not lately.”
“It’s certainly understandable- and encouraging- that they say they need more information because so do we. We’re waiting for it just like they are,” said Bill Sharp, Leadership Committee member.
“Frankly, I’m encouraged because the plan [of the reunification project] hasn’t even been published yet,” said Siegenthaler when this information was presented to him. The “plan” Siegenthaler referenced is the written up plan that will be presented to council once the traffic study is completed. The traffic study is projected to finalize later this month.
An extensive traffic study is currently being finalized by the Richland County Regional Planning Committee (RCRPC). When those numbers are crunched and analyzed, some decisions will be made that will shape the future of this project. Stay tuned for developments.
Do the people of Richland County believe this will benefit the community? It is not too late to offer your comments and suggestions in the comment boxes below. Check out the Facebook page devoted to informing the public about the project. Richland Source’s article is available for more information as well.
In the side bar you can find how the study was conducted, along with a copy of the survey (below) used to gather information from the business owners. Please feel free to fill it out and submit it to the site. Your input is valued.
Here is how the study was composed.
A survey with five quantifiable questions was typed up and used to fill out during interviews. Most interviews were executed face to face, but some were done via phone and email.
The series of questions stemmed from concerns and questions expressed by the community. Some of these questions and concerns can be found on this Facebook page. We structured some of the questions in a way that would only generate a yes or no answer. These questions gave us quantitative information. Other questions offered multiple choice answers, which also gave us quantitative information. The statistical jargon word “quantitative” basically means a number, i.e. a statistic, can be attributed to that specific variant.
Business owners and leaders also had the chance to elaborate on each question, which offered some qualitative information. These are the true, raw thoughts and opinions expressed by the business owners. Some of these thoughts have been shown as quotations in the article.
