Local community groups gather to provide updates

By RICHARD JENKINS

rjenkins@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood Township - Representatives from groups working to promote and enhance the Gogebic Range gathered at Gogebic Community College Thursday to provide updates on their efforts and network with like-minded people.

The event grew out of the Gogebic Range Next Generation Initiative, a group that began in 2008 as an effort to attract and retain young people.

"That's what this is really all about, creating the kind of community that is attractive to young people as a place to move to, or stay in," said Will Andresen, with the University of Wisconsin Iron County Extension office, who helped organize the event.

Andresen said the initiative began as an attempt to reverse the trend of young people leaving the area.

After surveying a number of young adults, it was discovered that less than 10 percent of the high school students thought this area was a good place to live and work as an adult.

The research also indicated young people who moved here felt the area's nature-based recreation opportunities and core community factors - such as affordable housing and walkability - were positive assets that factored into their decisions to come to the region.

Four basic work groups were created as a result of the information, Andresen said, to focus on promoting the community's strengths and building its niche, as well as retaining students and other young people who arrived as transplants.

One of the other results of the survey was those who did move to the community left after several years because they had trouble connecting with other young people.

"That's kind of the over-arching concept of this initiative: To promote what we know are our assets, build on them - make them even better, make them go from good to great - and then connect our young people (who are born and raised in the community) to them," Andresen said.

Among the others who spoke included representatives from the city of Ironwood, groups working on developing trails, the Friends of the Miners Memorial Heritage Park, Gogebic County 4-H Tech Wizards and those working to improve local food systems and community health.

Representatives spoke for about five minutes about their groups and how those present could continue to work together to move toward reaching future goals.

Michael Brown, Ironwood's community development director, discussed the city's comprehensive plan, as well as development of the Downtown Art Place and Art in the Park, as ways to increase the culture available to community residents.

Paul Anderson, with Coleman Engineering, updated the group on development of a regional trail running from Montreal, Wis., to Wakefield. With phase one of the trail - running from the Montreal River to the Ironwood city limits - complete and being used, the focus has shifted to the second phase of bringing the trail into Bessemer.

Anderson said the route for the second phase was being finalized, with the last couple easements being negotiated and bidding on the project could happen in February, with the construction complete by next fall.

Anderson said he expects that the popularity of the trail, which is already being used frequently, will only increase as it connects more of the region.

Ian Shackleford discussed progress on the developing the Montreal River, including several clean-up days this summer. He also announced that the awarding of a grant to purchase land on the Wisconsin side of the river - which would ensure Interstate Falls remains accessible to the public - is nearly complete and only has a couple more hurdles to pass before funding is provided.

While most of the discussed projects are designed to benefit everyone in the area, the focus of the evening was the area's young people.

Neil Klemme, youth development agent with the UW Extension office, focused on the argument that young people need to feel part of the community to stay and put down roots. He talked about his efforts to engage young people, including participating in "first impressions exchange," where young people visit other communities to see downtowns and using Mercer students to design tourism brochures for the area.

Klemme stressed once kids become involved in the future of their communities, adults tend to discover they share many of the same goals and visions.

"I was told by someone ... we're going to ask kids what they want and they are going to tell us they want roller coasters and water slides," said Klemme. "No, they don't. They are realistic. They want what you and I want, they want to be able to have clean water to kayak in and hike along. Their attitudes are the same as ours, and with some training and proper motivation, they can give you good feedback."

Following the presentations, attendees gathered for refreshments and networking opportunities.