Tyrone seeks public input on future of borough
Survey launched for comprehensive plan
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TYRONE -- About 7% of the borough's population has weighed in on Tyrone's future since officials launched a survey Monday for the next comprehensive plan.
Mayor John Harlow said he called the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development when he came into office earlier this year to see what Tyrone could do to receive grants and make the borough more vibrant.
After some discussion with DCED officials about the borough's current comprehensive plan, which was last updated in 2007, Harlow said he pushed borough council members to create a new plan, which could help bring new revenue into town.
On Monday, officials launched a survey asking people to tell them what they value most about the borough, what matters need the most attention and what they want for Tyrone's future. As of Friday morning, the survey had 386 responses, which officials called a strong start, considering the borough has a population of about 5,300.
However, the survey is not just limited to residents, as officials want to hear from people who work in the borough, students at Tyrone Area High School and anyone who cares about Tyrone's future.
"If Tyrone matters to you, your experience matters to the plan," said John McGill, Local Growth Labs' community and economic development director.
According to a preliminary analysis McGill did of the responses received so far, there are three groups that are slightly underrepresented in the survey -- young people, older residents and renters.
Officials are making a concerted effort to reach more people in those demographics, McGill said, noting they were soliciting feedback at Tyrone Area's home football game Friday, and they plan to be at the next two home games.
In addition, they will be doing a presentation at the high school, working with the retirement and senior care facilities in the area and connecting with people in the community who have access to renters to get more of their input, McGill said.
The survey can be completed online at http://tyrone.lglabs.org or at the Tyrone Borough office, for those who prefer a paper copy, officials said. The survey will close at the end of October.
People can also complete the survey and share their feedback with officials directly at one of three upcoming community workshops at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1650 Clay Ave., Tyrone.
Each workshop will build on community feedback from the previous workshop, but people do not have to attend every workshop in order to participate, officials said.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, the focus will be on exploring the future. Two weeks later, they'll meet again Oct. 8 to discuss building the direction. A final workshop, scheduled for Oct. 22, will focus on how officials can make their vision a reality over the next decade.
Each workshop will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church. There is no registration required, and light refreshments will be provided, officials said.
McGill and Harlow have been working with their partners from the Blair County Planning Commission and DCED to develop the borough's next comprehensive plan as they go. Altoona officials have also been quite generous in sharing everything they did to complete their comprehensive plan and get more of the city's projects funded, they said.
"We've been really inspired by what Altoona has done," McGill said. "They've done, by all accounts, one of the best comprehensive plans around."
While Altoona made an action-focused comprehensive plan, Tyrone's goal is to learn what has worked for the city and build an implementation-focused plan that fits the borough, officials said.
Growing up in Tyrone, Harlow said there was always something going on downtown for people to do every night. Harlow said he wants to see Tyrone grow and be vibrant again, noting the borough only receives two major forms of funding currently: property and earned income taxes.
"For the longest time, that is what has supported our community," Harlow said. "There really hasn't been a forward vision to get outside funding for anything, (and) I want to lighten the load on our community."
Harlow said he wants to attract more people from the region to the borough over the next 10 years, and ultimately make Tyrone a better place to live, work and play before his time in office is over.
"We can be the hub of Central Pennsylvania, and I would love to see that," Harlow said. "My goal with everything I've ever done in my life is to leave it better than I found it. For the next three years and four months, I'm a caretaker of the Tyrone community."
If you go
What: Tyrone 2036 community workshop
When: From 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24
Where: Church of the Good Shepherd, 1650 Clay Ave., Tyrone
Why: To share your ideas about what Tyrone should become by 2036. Participants will spend most of the evening talking and working in small groups to share their ideas with officials as they prepare the borough's next comprehensive plan.
Cost: Refreshments will be provided at no cost. There is no registration required.
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.