What should the future Franklin Gateway park look like? The people who call this neighborhood home are helping answer that question—and YELLS teens are making sure their voices are part of the conversation!
Recently, YELLS teens brought parents, neighbors, and fellow youth together for a community meeting focused on the future of the new Franklin Gateway park. The gathering gave residents an opportunity to share their ideas, talk about what their families need, and help shape a space that will serve the neighborhood for years to come.
During the meeting, participants took part in a community input session, sharing everything from their hopes for recreation and gathering spaces to the features they would most like to see in the park. Then came a little friendly collaboration through a “dotmocracy” activity, where attendees used dots to identify and prioritize the ideas that mattered most to them.
The meeting was more than a brainstorming session. It was a chance for neighbors to connect, recognize the power of their collective voice, and take an active role in decisions that will affect their community.
Young People Helping Shape What’s Next
YELLS teens are doing more than talking about what they hope to see in Franklin Gateway. They are helping create opportunities for residents to be heard and involved in the process.
Josue, a YELLS teen and the youngest member of the Franklin Gateway Park Committee, helped lead the recent meeting and encouraged attendees to stay engaged. As YELLS’ teen representative on the committee, he will help bring youth perspectives to the table as plans for the 10-acre park move forward.
He also challenged those in attendance to bring at least one additional person to the next community gathering. His mother joined the meeting in support and encouraged fellow parents to do the same – a great example of how youth leadership can inspire families to get involved, too.
With young people helping lead conversations and residents sharing their priorities, the park planning process is becoming a community-wide effort.
A Park Built Around Community
The future Franklin Gateway park represents more than 10 acres of new green space. It is an opportunity to create a place where children can play, families can gather, neighbors can connect, and the community can build lasting memories.
Just as importantly, the process is demonstrating that community members deserve a voice in shaping the places they call home. Through YELLS, youth are learning that civic engagement starts with showing up, listening, asking questions, and bringing people together around a shared vision.
We are excited to continue working alongside Franklin Gateway residents, families, and community partners as plans take shape. There is still more work to do, and we want to keep hearing from the people who know this neighborhood best.
Want to help shape the future of Franklin Gateway? Join an upcoming community meeting, share your ideas, and invite a neighbor to participate. Every voice helps build a stronger vision for the neighborhood we call home!
