Community foundation hears from the public

The Boardman Community Foundation made its formal debut at the Boardman Park Lariccia Family Community Center Sept. 9 with a 10 a.m. press conference followed by two community forums that engaged Boardman residents in a conversation on their visions and ideas for improving quality of life and cultivating legacies in the community.

Participants in the community forums were shown a presentation on the history of the foundation and led into discussion by Ron Chordas of Youngstown State University and a board member for the group.

The forums produced various ideas that focused on community improvements, developing projects and programs for the Boardman community. Ideas included inviting gateways and major intersections, welcome signs to greet visitors, road enhancements and acquisition and preservation of green spaces.

New development suggestions included a skating rink, stadium, senior community center, transportation and hike and bike trails.

Residents felt strongly about creating a unique celebratory community day that would encourage all nonprofit and civic organizations, churches, schools, neighborhoods and businesses to come together and build pride for Boardman.

They also suggested that a community calendar be created on the BCF Web site so all residents can stay informed about upcoming events, programs and projects.

The foundation plans to meet with Boardman civic, community and neighborhood organizations to further inform the community of its objectives and to collaborate on ways to make the community better.

“The community forums showed that the people of Boardman have great ideas on how to improve our community. Our challenge is to grow the resources of the BCF to be able to make the community projects and programs a reality,” said foundation president Jim Rosa.