Hampton Residents Invited to Have Their Say on City’s Future Through Community Forum and 20-Year Plan
HAMPTON, Va. — On Monday, Hampton leaders invited the community to an event focused on shaping the city’s future.
At the Hampton 2040 Community Plan event, the community was able to view city data and provide feedback on a community plan. The comprehensive plan being developed includes a five-year plan on immediate strategic issues and a 20-year plan to move the city forward.
Among the changes already made are a $6 million rehabilitation of the Buckroe Beach boardwalk, more than 40 Bike Walk events with more than 1,500 participants, and 95 community gardens across the city.
The city also highlighted key results from previous community plans, including the transformation of the Coliseum Mall into the Peninsula Town Center; the Boo Williams Sportsplex; preserve the arsenal of the National Guard in a community space; and new homes on vacant lots in older neighborhoods that match the character of the neighborhoods.
Our team spoke with Hampton Community Development Manager Terry O’Neill, who said he was excited to get people on board.
“We have a pretty proud history of doing a lot to engage our community, to help us, to partner with us in bringing about an important document like this,” O’Neill said. “We launched it just before COVID hit, so it’s sort of our reboot. We’re hoping to generate some buzz and interest in the community so people will come out and be involved in our task forces as we move forward.”
Officials say two of the main focus areas of the community plan are sea level rise and solutions to gun violence.
Although Monday’s event is over, the city said there will be plenty of opportunities to provide feedback — in neighborhood groups, civic and business associations, informal discussions and online polls. The city will also hold several large gatherings to check in with the community as it collates the feedback it receives.