Big Rocks and Small Pebbles

The nonprofit Pennsylvania Downtown Center has developed eight guiding principles for downtown revitalization. These eight principles set it apart from other redevelopment strategies. Let's look at a couple.

First, we need to recognize that downtown revitalization is a complex process requiring a comprehensive strategy. No single project, whether a lavish public improvement or endless promotional events, will do the job.

This is pretty much where we sit now here in Nashua. While many ideas have been pushed, and great efforts have been made to shake fruit from these trees, it doesn't happen. Arriving at this realization is a good thing, as it makes everyone more open minded and willing to seek common solutions. But it still doesn't get any work done.

Secondly, progress is incremental. To quote PDC: "Basic, simple activities lead to a more sophisticated understanding of the revitalization process and help members of the community develop skills to tackle more complex problems and ambitions projects."

This is a straightforward statement of a profound idea. It almost implies that the learning process is more important than the accomplished tasks. This makes sense, because once a community member becomes a team player and sees the results, they will be motivated to involve others and to contribute more. Progress will accelerate over time. It's a roadmap to move from a unitary "Cave-man" model to a cooperative "Ant Colony" model. And everyone involved is growing smarter as time moves along.

When we can focus on a simple activity that we know will be useful, we can answer the question "How can we get this done?" And the number of potential resources (business community, educational community, retirees, students, downtown residents, organizations) begins to increase as we stand back from the big problems a little.

Is this all it takes? Of course not. But even the smallest pebble thrown into the pool makes ripples.