Stan Gustafson, city of Cambridge
Economic Development Director
Do you ever envision what the city of Cambridge will look like in 2025? Do you care about the city’s future and overall development?
Here is an opportunity for you to get involved. Cambridge is hosting a visit by the Minnesota Design Team (MRT) on March 31 through April 2, 2016. The Minnesota Design Team is a group of professionals from a variety of backgrounds such as architecture, landscaping, planning, and concept design that takes a fresh look at our community. The Minnesota Design Team was initially created as the Governor’s Design Team in 1983 and was created by Governor Rudy Perpich. It has evolved over many years and through thousands of volunteer hours has helped over 100 cities.
Starting on March 31, 2016 the Design Team will work with local citizens, business owners, and city staff to plan a potential future for Cambridge. They will help our community focus on Cambridge’s potential and areas for improvement. This is done through a series of community meetings held on March 31 and April 1 where input is solicited from participants and then culminates in a design presentation on Saturday, April 2.
The Design Team has three objectives when working with communities:
• To increase awareness of the benefits of quality design in a community’s development.
• To preserve each community’s identity through images and words to construct a sustainable vision with existing assets such as the people, institutions, buildings and natural environment.
• To use participatory democracy and a grassroots initiative.
• To inspire community-based development through a positive experience of bringing together people to better understand their community, one another and the future.
These objectives will be met through the community work session(s) and the Design Team’s final presentation on Saturday.
The Minnesota Design Team is here to gather your thoughts and ideas then present a compilation of these thoughts through design and pictures. This effort will set the course for Cambridge’s future. The city is seeking city residents of all ages to be part of a team working on this project. We will select up to 300 people. The only requirement is that you either live within the city limits or operate a business within the city limits.
Host Families are also needed for this event. Visiting members of the Design Team stay with residents in an effort to keep the costs of a Design Team visit down for the local community. It also provides an opportunity for Design Team members to speak on a one on one basis with a local resident. If you are willing to host a member of the Design Team on Thursday, March 31 – Saturday, April 2, call Stan Gustafson at 763-552-3209 or email sgustafson@ci.cambridge.mn.us .
This is a great opportunity to assist the project and give your input on the future of Cambridge. To participate please fill out a Minnesota Design Team Citizens Application Form located on the city’s website at www.ci.cambridge.mn.us.
Please get involved. Your help and vision is needed to shape the future of Cambridge. Lend us your voice and make a difference.
The Minnesota Design Team’s visit is made possible through a grant from the Initiative Foundation’s Thriving Communities Program. The Initiative Foundation’s goal is to build a stronger Cambridge and build social capital.
Minnesota Design Team Visit Timeline
for March 31 – April 2:
• March 31: 5 to 8:30 p.m. Community Reception, Information Collection, Meet Host Families.
• April 1: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Community presentations from the Chamber, Downtown Task Force, C-I School District, Anoka Ramsey Community College, Isanti Commission on Aging, ACT on Alzheimer’s, Teen Center, youth groups, nonprofits, etc.
• April 1: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Community dinner for participants to gather input and prioritize community needs.
• April 2: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Presentation by Design Team based upon input gathered.
Apply for your place at the Minnesota Design Team visit by visiting the city’s website at www.ci.cambridge.mn.us. Limited to 300 applicants.