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The Just Imagine SWLA Process
The Just Imagine SWLA process engaged a region of over 200,000 people, many of whom were relocated or dealing with the stressful process of repairing their homes, fighting insurance claims, and managing contractors. Despite their personal situations, citizens gave freely of their time and passionately engaged in Just Imagine, a testament to their love for Southwest Louisiana.
Just Imagine SWLA followed a three-step process — Understanding, Testing, and Deciding. Throughout this three-step process, over 2,500 people participated. The process layered in-person, virtual, and text-based tools to reach the widest number of stakeholders and citizens possible. The engagement team established an Advisory Committee and Guiding Groups centered around the five plan topics, hosted in-person public workshops, communicated through a project website, and solicited ideas through an online idea wall, interactive maps, surveys, youthspecific surveys, and Hello Lamp Post, a text-based chat platform. Hello Lamp Post signs were placed in everyday places to catch the attention of people who may not have encountered the Just Imagine process elsewhere — grocery stores, school pick-up lines, and festivals. Just Imagine SWLA recruited ambassadors in both parishes to hold smaller versions of workshops at libraries, civic meetings, employer lunch-and-learns, and social settings. In total, over 7,300 comments were shared to guide the process over the ten-month engagement process.
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1. People and communities in SWLA are supportive, friendly, and familyoriented
2. Appreciation for beautiful, natural landscapes and waterways
3. People love and use the local parks and green spaces
TOP 3 STRENGTHS
1. Flooding and poor drainage
2. Traffic patterns, congestion, and poor circulation
3. The cost of all housing is going up and many households are being priced out
1. Sidewalks, bike trails, and pedestrian paths in both developed and natural areas
2. More choices for restaurants and food experience
3. Attract entertainment and shopping amenities to the region
TOP 3 PROBLEMS
TOP 3 DREAMS
The vision for Southwest Louisiana is organized around five topics — Collaborative Community Planning, Resilient Housing, Diverse and Strong Economy, Reliable and Resilient Infrastructure, and Natural and Cultural Resources. These topics align with five of the six the FEMA designated Recovery Support Functions (RSF) in the Calcasieu Parish Long-Term Recovery Plan, ensuring continuity between the plans. Just Imagine SWLA expands these five topics to Cameron Parish and the region.
Vision statements for each topic were affirmed by the community, parish and municipal leadership, industry leaders, Guiding Groups, and the Advisory Committee. These visions and goals serve as the benchmark for assuring policies, projects, and plan recommendations achieve the intended impact.
Just Imagine SWLA focuses on implementation. Although the horizon of the plan is 50 years, everyone agreed that change and investment are needed in the short- and mid-term to demonstrate that things are changing. For this reason, the process identified 11 catalytic projects that would be highly visible and could be implemented in the first ten years. Seven projects are location-specific, while the remaining four apply in multiple locations across both parishes and the region.
Collaborative community planning that focuses on implementing a better quality of life.
Resilient housing in attractive neighborhoods that people can afford and access.
A diverse and strong economy that adapts to stresses and provides all residents and businesses with the opportunity to thrive.
Reliable and resilient infrastructure that improves the quality of life and makes the region safer.
A region that fully celebrates and protects its unique natural and cultural resources.
11 Catalytic Projects In 10 Years
Coastal Risk Reduction
Waterfront Development
Mid-City Neighborhood Transformation
Nellie Lutcher District
McNeese Area Resilience District
WHAT IS A ‘CATALYTIC PROJECT’?
A highly visible project that can be funded and implemented in the first 10 years to improve economic growth, infrastructure, and quality of life.
Chennault & SOWELA Area
Resilience District
Strong Downtowns
Community Resilience Hubs
Resilient Housing for SWLA
Strategy for Vacant and Underutilized Land
Bayou Greenbelt
