A group of Hiawatha Highlands stakeholders has come together to develop a vision of what the area is and could become.
And one of the first things the group wants to do is put up signs telling people where it is.
"It's a beautiful and largely undiscovered area," Bob Cuerrier (Farmer Bob) said at a Civic Centre meeting yesterday. "Right now there is nothing telling people how to get to the area or defining its borders."
Cuerrier and other members of the Hiawatha Area Planning Initiative (HAPI) would like to see a theme and some branding for the Hiawatha area.
The group is made up of representatives from Sault Ste. Marie Regional Conservation Authority, the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club, Scouts Canada, Mockingbird Hill Farm and other groups that use the area regularly.
Many of them were on hand at yesterday's community information session in the Russ Ramsay Room at City Hall.
HAPI is co-facilitated by Linda Savory Gordon and Jude Ortiz, Community Resilience Sault Ste. Marie's community consultants.
The group is trying to put together a Hiawatha Area Development Plan and it wants to know what Saultites think should happen up there.
Among Saultbies who came to yesterday's session was German shepherd puppy Sequoia who brought along her people, Jason Chenier and Cathi Baber (shown).
They joined about a dozen other mountain bikers at the table to fill out the questionnaire created by HAPI members.
Both Baber and Chenier are returned Saultites and Chenier said Hiawatha is the prettiest park he has ever seen in any city.
HAPI members agree and that's why they are seeking direction for its development from community user groups.
So far, HAPI has come up with some ideas that fall into three broad categories, Ortiz says.
"We are looking at security, infrastructure and sustainability," she says.
Some of the ideas, such as the purchase, restoration and reopening of Hiawatha Lodge 1 as a focal point for the area, are long-term goals.
Others, like installation of signage, area branding and the formation of a cooperative management group, are more short-term.
HAPI is still seeking community input on its ideas and welcomes written or e-mailed submissions until March 23, said Ortiz.
After that date, results will be compiled and organized into a report over the next three or so weeks, she said.
Then, the group hopes to form a draft management plan for the area and submit that to City Council for approval.
For more information on HAPI, its ideas or to make a submission, contact Jude Ortiz at Algoma University College, 1520 Queen St. E, Sault Ste. Marie ON P6A 2G4.
She can also be e-mailed at jude.ortiz@algomau.ca or reached by telephone: 949-2301 ext. 4222.
