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strong and attractive feature of the community and need to be promoted more <br />strongly. <br /> <br />Younger people added the fact that the distance between some homes, and the <br />lack of sidewalks, or even bike lanes for children and youth to safely and <br />independently visit friends, makes it more difficult to be in contact with neighbors <br />or school friends. Older participants added that not having sidewalks was an <br />attractive feature for some residents. <br /> <br />There was general consensus that we live in a pretty special environment with <br />the lakes , wetlands, the trials, our parks, and what is left of the Big Woods. <br />There was also a common feeling among all generations that these resources <br />needed vigilant protection. <br /> <br />Finally, another significant takeaway was there are many creative and reflective <br />citizens from all generations who live, work, play, retire or go to school in Orono. <br />People found the intergenerational conversation a place where they could gather <br />and discuss issues in a respectful manner; and even work together across <br />generations to offer some recommendations to city leaders. <br /> <br />And this brings us to the second half of the evening, the small intergenerational <br />groups of problem solvers. Nine small groups made up of different generations <br />spent time discussing two challenges below and here is a report on their findings- <br />eliminating duplications. <br /> <br />When they sat down in their small groups, they appointed one person to record <br />and later report their ideas to the larger group. <br /> <br />Everyone in the small group was asked to make a note of each of two challenges <br />they were given. It was very important that everyone had a chance to say what <br />they thought. <br /> <br />Finally, the small group recommendations needed to be specific and concrete. <br />They needed to be things anyone in the group could start working on tomorrow. <br /> <br />Challenge 1 <br />As we look to the future, Orono will need to attract younger families into the city, <br />and also enable older residents to age in place rather than go into a facility. <br />Please come up with two concrete ideas on how the city can better attract <br />younger families, and how it can help older residents stay in their own homes. <br /> <br />1. Make it easier to create more affordable and higher density middle <br />income housing – medium priced condos like Spring Park Mist. ($200,000 <br />to $300,000) Some added to this idea by suggesting intergenerational <br />housing for new families and for older folks who want to downsize. ( Stone <br />Bay was presented as an example) <br />Page 25 of 30