Community Engagement

racks, and pedestrian rest stop amenities (seating, water fountains, bathrooms, etc.) • A Route 66 visitor center • Public Art that celebrates El Reno’s history without imitating it • Establish a taskforce or committee to oversee car/racing culture promotion and events in El Reno (Visit; “City”; “Cruising”)

Albuquerque, NM, neon gateway to Nob Hill (NHMS) Albuquerque, NM Nob Hill Shopping Center (Visit)

A critical step to a successful project is to plan with rather than for a community. To do this, we have been meeting with community leaders and the general public as well as reaching out to the public via our project website and the El Reno Tribune. So far, we have heard a particular desire for walkability,

Overarching Priorities Learned from Community Engagement

Notably, the priorities that we have consistently heard from the Sunset Drive Steering Committee and other community leaders strongly aligns with what was discussed at the general community meeting. The people of El Reno have stated a general want for improved quality of life and economic development along Sunset Drive that capitalizes on their current assets and strengthens El Reno’s unique identity. The three major themes that we have heard specifically emphasize:

• Pedestrian safety and walkability (artistic crosswalks and lighting, bike lanes, accessible sidewalks, street furniture and landscaping, dog stations and trash cans, etc.) • Code enforcement (ordinance updates and enforcement, zoning overlays, design review commissions, connecting residents to programs that help pay for house repairs and weatherization, etc.) • Facilitation of development for Route 66 tourism and local fun (programming, infrastructure, and quality of life improvements that will incentivize businesses to locate in the area)

code enforcement, and development for tourism and local fun.

This team has been very fortunate to work on this project with a variety of community leaders, including those on the steering committee as well as those who have set aside time to meet with us individually. The Sunset Drive Steering Committee consists of nine community members who represent different functions of El Reno, including local businesses, City Council, the Canadian County Historical Society, the Chamber of Commerce, El Reno Main Street, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. This group of people have been incredibly helpful in educating the team on El Reno, guiding this project’s focus, and raising awareness of the project through their networks.

In meetings with the steering committee, the team has been presenting information and progress of the project visually, followed by guided group discussion, which takes up most of the meeting time. Our discussion questions have mostly varied between meetings, but we have consistently been asking the steering committee what they hope to see along Sunset Drive in the short term as well as the long term to maintain a balance of quick, actionable ideas and long-term community vision. Afterwards, we’ve been following up with the steering committee with detailed notes about what occurred at the meeting as well as a general summary to ensure that we interpreted what they said correctly. Additionally, we share the presentation slides with them so that they reference it while reflecting on the meeting.

During our meetings, the steering committee has consistently shown particular interest in improving the streetscape of Sunset Drive so that it is more accessible, enjoyable, and safe for pedestrians and cyclists. Specifically, they have emphasized a need for lighting, sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and artistic signage. The committee has also often discussed how improvements to Sunset Drive could be helpful to local businesses and small entrepreneurs as well as what kinds of economic development could be beneficial to the city’s internal and external revenue flows. Likewise, in our most recent meeting, the steering committee helped brainstorm strategies to enact the ideas brought up during the general community meeting, such as bond or state funding, overlay districts, and infrastructure for interim development.

Although the steering committee’s insight has been invaluable, the team also wanted to hear more from other major stakeholders in El Reno, such as the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, the local schools, the El Reno Tribune, and other organizations. Fortunately,