Real creativity, comes from thinking big

Dayton, 2012: Two years into unigov, we’ve consolidated all fire, police, street maintenance, and brought all parks and recreation facilities together under 5 Rivers Metro parks banner. It’s not just Montgomery County either- it’s including Greene and Northern Warren. Population is almost doubled for the Metro region.

The finishing touches are going on SportsPlex down on the former Parkside Homes property. We’ve already had the Olympic trials here for swimming in the new pool, on the velodrome, and the indoor speed skating oval.

New hotels downtown along the river have popped up to support the non-stop flow of people to the new white water park, as well as the huge waterpark, BMX track, and getting ready for X-Games 2013.

The new light rail system that connects the VA on the West side across to Wright State and the Base is running, and the new North South route is half way complete- it is running from the Airport, down past the old Salem Mall area, and will then connect down through to the Dayton Mall.

The school systems have all integrated Countywide with Sinclair becoming the primary administrator. We’ve got magnets all across the region, with open enrollment at the high school level. We’ve extended our school year to 215 days, and have lengthened the school day to a full 8 hours. All students begin with headstart at age 3. Subsidized day care is available to anyone making under $25K a year, as long as the parent is enrolled in continuing education.

The GM plant in Moraine is now producing 150cc scooters and micro cars, after being sold to India’s Tata motors. Part of the plant is building light rail vehicles and their is talk about building high-speed trains.

There has been a moritorium on building on farmland for 2 years. All new developments must be built on current infrastructure. No new roads, plats, extension of utilities. A 15 year tax abatement is offered on all housing built to replace a nuisance structure.

To attract new residents to the area, we negotiate to be a test area for unlimited H-1 Visas for people who are willing to live and work in a HUB-zone. To further increase residency- amnesty is allowed for illegal immigrants who are willing to move in and rehab properties deemed uninhabitable- as long as they have no criminal record, complete at least an associates degree and learn English within 10 years. We also allow honorably discharged veterans first choice of homesteading on REAP’d properties.

The Arcade has been made into a Casino – with the old Dayton Daily News building connected both through skywalks and tunnels. The Crowne Plaza gains a new wing, with a remake of Dave Hall plaza into a Fraze like concert facility.

The new ice rink downtown is home to the Dayton Bombers and a new youth hockey program. The back of Memorial Hall is opened up to Riverscape- with a grand plaza- and the stage is home to many large outdoor concerts and events.

A youth sports commission works to coordinate coaches, league scheduling, tournaments and provide opportunities to all kids to play at the highest possible level. Dayton becomes known as the Olympic/Pro athlete training ground to the United States.

Music programs are expanded in all schools- with a feeder system that takes the best musicians and feeds them to Stivers and 2 other arts magnets- one North, one South. Winterguard, drumline and dance squads compete year round- with the national competitions coming here annually.

There could be more ideas- but, that would of course- require us to think big and then act- instead of talking about things and doing the same old thing.

Of course, it’s all Michael Phelps fault- who would have thought anyone could win 8 Olympic Golds, set 7 world records? And keep me up way past my bedtime rambling about what I believe we could do, if we only believed we could.

Got ideas to add?

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