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Idea Exchange

Gave Neighbors Lots of Resources

            On Saturday March 1st, at Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s Idea Exchange, 36 neighbors came together from all over the city to brainstorm and discuss hundreds of ideas!  All participants were involved, caring citizens exercising their personal power to be part of the solution in their neighborhood.

            They noticed that all their neighborhoods had the same intention of being clean, beautiful and safe – just some were closer to the goal than others.  There were those who were successful HOAs with bylaws and mandatory fees; others who did a lot but were voluntary neighborhood associations with not much money to work with; and still others who were deciding how to start a group or resurrect one.

            All of them have in common our City ordinances and available City neighborhood assistance programs.  There were ideas about how to apply for the grants and how to get more involved in the surveillance of their neighborhoods. 

            They found they had dozens of opportunities for help from Keep Carrollton Beautiful.  Keep Carrollton Beautiful has made it possible for Hunter’s Creek HOA to award “Yard of the Month” with their own sign.  A non-profit helping local teens, Team Me USA, is looking into adopting a “spot”.  Because they are choosing a greenbelt to adopt, they will have more rustic signs than those seen around town for Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s Adopt-A-Spot program. 

              Many of the groups are planning neighborhood cleanups for Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup on April 19^th.  They discovered that all they have to do is come get their free supplies and bring the trash back to Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s event to avoid landfill fees.

            The attendees learned about Green Business presentations, school paper recycling programs, cell phone recycling and many other programs offered by Keep Carrollton Beautiful.  You can find out about all of these programs addressing environmental issues around AIR, LAND, WATER and COMMUNITY at www.KeepCarrolltonBeautiful.org.

            Be sure to see the displays about Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s neighborhood programs and the Great American Cleanup at both libraries during March and April - so you too can become part of the solution.

   We are happy to provide a Green Business  presentation for your group.  Just call 972.466.2121       to schedule.

  We also offer information on recycling, stormwater, Texas SmartScape and other environmental issues.

             Sustainable Carrollton Bus Tour

July 31,2007

      Even in the pouring rain, Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s “Bus Tour” came off without a hitch.  Last Tuesday, Brad Mink the Economic Development Director for Carrollton, informed 22 citizens during a tour he set up expressly for Keep Carrollton Beautiful participants.    Mr. Mink wants to get the word out about what Carrollton is planning for its future, so he’d be happy to give a presentation for your group too.
     Peter Braster, Carrollton’s Transit Oriented Development Officer, joined them to provide up-to-the minute information about the DART light rail coming through Carrollton.  "I commend Carrollton for planning for future growth and development - planning not reacting," said Bob Maguire, Keep Carrollton Beautiful participant.
     All the participants found out about our many corporate citizens - how they came to Carrollton and what they do.  As one participant put it - "Where else can you find Barney, Sam Moon, Chrysler and Mary Kay in one location?" 
     Mr. Mink was very interested in everyone understanding who contributes to the tax base in our city.  Of course without that base, all the services that residents enjoy would not be possible. 
     The driving rain didn’t keep them from seeing the upgrades that the City of Carrollton has made and are making on some of the older streets and parkways.  Mr. Mink explained the changes in building requirements that create a more welcoming and sustainable appearance.  Richard Scott, a Keep Carrollton Beautiful volunteer said, “Until one hears about the past, current, and future developments in Carrollton, it is easy to undervalue what we have.”  Everyone had plenty of opportunity to ask questions about what they thought was important.
     Underlying everything that was said was the history of how we got where we are in the first place - some of the mistakes that were made in planning and in trusting people who had only their own best interests at heart, instead of the city as a whole.
Paul Heller was very appreciative of the Bus Tour.  He said, “It was a great way to learn about all the economic forces, both business and residential, that have shaped the past and will shape the future of Carrollton."