BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur Mayor Dan Rickord is a strong believer in the young people of a community playing a huge role in the future of the community.
With that in mind, he created a Mayor’s Youth Council that is now in its third school year.
And now, he is planning an event which he hopes will bring young adults together to offer thoughts and ideas to guide Decatur through the years ahead.
A Young Adult Bowling Night for 18-24 year olds will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Villa lanes. The mayor said he is seeking input from young adults “to help up plan for the future and grow Decatur.”
Food will be provided, as will bowling for those who wish to do so. No admission will be charged.
Those planning to attend may drop in at any time. Rickord said he will explain the purpose of the meeting in a brief address sometime around the middle of the program.
“It goes back to the idea that I believe most of us would love to see our children and grandchildren choose Decatur as the place they call home and raise their families,” Mayor Rickord said.
“I’ve often been told, if your community is not growing, it is dying. In order to grow, we need to retain many of the young adults who have grown up here.
“My goal is to gain some insight into what our 18-24 year-olds are looking for in a place to call home. What kind of living arrangements are they interested in, apartments or home ownership? “What makes a city attractive to this age group … restaurant choices, public services, adequate health care, economic opportunities, park amenities, strong sense of community, music festivals and cultural events, networking opportunities, etc.?” he continued.
“Rather than trying to guess what factors they will consider when choosing a place to live, I would rather go directly to the source. Because so many of these young adults can work from home, it is our job to try and create an environment that aligns with their priorities and offers the quality of life they desire.”
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