By Scott Townsend
What inspired you to move to Payson?
Was it the opportunity to escape the corporate jungle
Was it the opportunity to submerge yourself into in the beauty of Rim Country?
Was it the moderate temperature?
Whatever it was, I’ll wager, most came to Payson to enjoy a more relaxed and moderate paced lifestyle. From being in the outdoors to hunting and fishing, no matter your reason – has that reason(s) come to fruition?
Many of us have come from a wide variety of places … places that brought you a sense of belonging, a sense of community. I’ll take it one step further – many of us were accustom to community experiences … seeing neighbors, co-workers, friends and family, at a number of exciting events from tractor pulls to easter egg hunts. From street fairs to holiday celebrations … The community in which we live has an influence on our lives.
Who brings, the residents, these Community Experiences? Our leaders, be they elected or hired town staff. If these folks are the community leaders where is there vision … The vision to create a Community Experience. Yes, Payson does have events, however it would appear the events are fewer and fewer.
Our Town has a fantastic story to tell. A story of the old West, of the evolution from a frontier to a small metropolitan town. Why are our leaders avoiding our story? Is there a creative bone within our community leaders? They claim to have a vision and yet they fall short time after time.
Here’s a crazy idea … bring the longtime residents and the new residents, together, to create ideas/vision for what they (the residents) would like to see for Community Experiences. In case you, our leaders have forgotten or did not know, feedback is the genesis for developing/creating multi-dimensional and memorable Community Experiences.
Here’s another crazy idea … From this writers perspective the lack of a Connecting Experience to build a stronger community is blamed on the age of its residents. Hog Wash – We may be older … we aren’t dead yet. Many who reside in Payson want as much excitement, within community events, as the younger crowd.
It’s time our leaders step it up! Stop shifting the blame from doing exciting programs, because our demographics are too old to participate. Start looking at the Community and how to Connect one and all.
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