Is The Appearance of Joplin
Really An Issue?

Is it important? It is based on input citizens provided to the Chamber’s Community Appearance Task Force over this past summer. In fact, for many of them community appearance is a strong component in civic pride and, conversely, a major frustration when areas don’t meet their expectations.

The task force was formed with the specific mission of considering the impact of community appearance on economic and community development. A number of Chamber members have commented about their efforts to recruit top talent to their firms and the feedback they get about the disparity in appearance between the new and old residential and commercial areas. By extension, the perception that Joplin is a thriving, progressive city is based as much on appearance as on the actual statistics of growth.

As the task force began its work gaining citizen input was a key consideration. The group held three public meetings in different areas of Joplin in order to get a good cross-section of thoughts and suggestions. The Task Force heard common themes.

First, citizens have a great deal of pride in their neighborhoods, and in the progress made in downtown, city parks and the newer commercial areas. They emphasized that they want Joplin to be the very best city that it can possibly be.

However, they are very frustrated when residential properties in their neighborhoods are not kept up and detract from property values. They want more assistance for lower-income property owners who just can not afford, monetarily or physically, to keep their homes neat and safe.

On the other hand, there is little patience for those who have the wherewithal to maintain their properties and don’t. Surprisingly many see a strong connection between law enforcement and appearance. They want the police to be visible and, more importantly, accessible.

The residents were very complimentary of the new sidewalks, lighting and plantings on Main Street. But they were just as emphatic in wanting the overall improvement effort extended to reach First and Tenth Streets.

In downtown and the older commercial developments, including Range Line and 32nd, residents expressed concern about the “sea of asphalt” parking lots running curb to curb. They want to see more efforts made to “screen” or break-up the expanses with plantings or small decorative walls between sidewalks and parking lots and green islands in the parking lots.

There are numerous recommendations the Task Force has developed from citizen input. You can see the report on the Chamber’s website at www.joplincc.com. While many of those recommendations are directed to City actions, everyone can play a role by keeping their own properties neat and safe. Appearance makes a difference in a growing community.

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