Thanks to all who have responded to the survey I placed in my article. I will do this again soon. Responses came from teachers, long-established residents, new citizens to Bowling Green, grandchildren, and business owners. I will be presenting your comments to our newly formed City Comprehensive Community Planning Committee, which will brainstorm on the possibilities for our amazing town for the next 5, 10, 15, or 20 years from now.
Just as a child develops a personality as they grow, places like Bowling Green develop personalities as well. Can Bowling Green pinpoint our personality? If so, can we incorporate our personality into our roads, store fronts, and community activities to celebrate our individual cultures within our community as well as a shared identity? As we grow and develop, what inspires us as a town? Can we strengthen our bonds, our connections with each other? Can we become more close-knit in our neighborhoods, businesses, ranchers and farmers, our elected officials? May we have a collaborative process by which we can shape our public identity and shared values? Our city’s personality is more than promoting a better infrastructure but also facilitating creative patterns of physical, cultural, and social identities that define our growth, development and our on-going evolution for our future generations. Community-wide participation is at the center of our success!
So how do we determine our Bowling Green personality/identity. You’ve heard me say on KJFM radio and in our papers about how our people are so caring and loving and how supportive you are to our schools, people in need, our local non-profits like our churches, Lions and Rotary clubs, Options for Women, Anne’s Anchor, and other charities.
Other gauges for a town’s personality or identity are community assets, (Champ Clark House, Genealogy and Jail Museum, War memorials, our lakes, 100-year-old farms, parks, ball fields and sports programs, our fairs/festivals, Amish), and this list could go on. What inspiration, potential, or traditions do we identify with? What makes Bowling Green standout out from other small rural towns? What do we feel immediately connects us?
As Americans we identify with liberty, freedom of speech, all people are created equal, and right to pursue one’s happiness. We have a Bill of Rights. So what is Bowling Green’s identify along with our Bill of Rights?
“Lent” is upon us in which we identify with fish fries at Ashley and St. Clement and the concept of sacrificing or denying ourselves of something. Have you ever tried giving up something for 40 days? Many in our community identifies with St. Patrick’s Day whether we’re Irish or not! (Remember Trivia Night at the Library). Daylight Savings Time occurred this last weekend and I am glad. Although I miss that hour of sleep. Watch our wonderful papers and listen to KJFM for the many activities available to Bowling Green and beyond. Follow Pike County Mo Tourism for many other events going on in our area!