What Do Kids Want In Chattanooga?

Back in the 1980's a group called Vision 2000 was formed to help define what Chattanooga would become.

The ideas born from Vision 2000 lead to the rebirth of downtown, the riverfront and so many other new places to live and work. Now, a generation later, it's time to plan for the next big wave of growth and who better to ask for ideas than children?

Children are the future, so why not listen to what they say is needed to make life better for them?

We visited with children from Alton Park Monday sitting at the table with kids from Lookout Mountain.

One of them, 14-year-old Alton Park resident Kiara Walker, said "I learned how they felt about our community, and how I feel too."

Lookout Mountain resident Alex Bosgraf added "it was interesting to see all the different ideas and how we agreed on a lot of it together."

The forum at Alton Park's Bethlehem Center is a part of STAND's citywide effort to affect change based on people's ideas about what it is that makes a brighter future. Like adults in other sessions, kids here get to answer four simple questions about what they like about Chattanooga and what they'd like to see and do to affect change.

"They have awesome ideas if you actually give them the platform to talk and you give them the time to think about it a little bit, but they've come up with some really great ideas," STAND's Craig Van Korlaar said. "It's not just ideas, these are leaders of the future."

Culturally the children are worlds apart, their lives shaped by different circumstances and events. But after Monday's forum they learned they have the same wishes and dreams for life today and the future.

So after two hours of discussion it all boiled down to what the kids want - less violence, less pollution and more recreation.

"Well it helps out a lot, keeps us off the streets and keeps us doing something constructive in the summer where we can stay out of trouble," Alton Park resident Brandon Banks said.

Ten-year-old Arkeem High added "like if we had amusement parks, water parks, malls and stuff like that."

The choices of places to play for children in Alton Park are limited and this STAND forum makes that point with the hope of getting the attention of city leaders.

It got 16-year-old Carter Ellis of Lookout Mountain's attention, who said "I think it's enlightening for both of us to see each other's views on things and learn from each other."

To learn more about STAND and how you can be part of the discussions about Chattanooga's future go to this website:

WWW.CHATTANOOGASTAND.COM