Simple question. What do you think Bedford needs? Answer it any which way you like (roads, better parks, better shopping, etc).
I personally think Bedford needs to establish an identity. But how do we get there?
Presently there seems to be two factions in this township – one group feels that Bedford should remain the sleepy community it was 20 some years ago while the other believes that Bedford needs to continue to grow in a way that it represents the growing community it has become.
I think we can accomplish both. To do so I believe the onus needs to fall on our Township government.
The first step is truly hammering down our Master Plan. To coincide with this I believe that we must explore stricter architectural standards through increased zoning laws. Beyond that I believe more strict site plan approvals will become necessary as a result.
I think beyond this we need to find ways to make our ‘downtown’ areas truly feel like ‘downtown’. I’m not sure what one could do in Lambertville but Temperance and Samaria surely seem like they could be made to feel more pedestrian and friendly. Beautification is a must. Carr Park and the park off Samaria Rd (name escapes me) could certainly use additional funds to make them even greater.
Furthermore we need to see a greater sense of civic pride. Why not a Saturday and Sunday festival that closes off the streets in downtown Temperance? The festival could feature a ‘taste of the town’, festival rides located at Carr Park, local bands to entertain, etc. Or, why not just throw a huge community bash for a weekend in the summer around the Community Stadium?! I know we have Summerfest at Parmalee Park but let us expand on these ideas!
I want to see an identity but I want to see it include the aspects of Bedford I grew up loving – a town where everyone knows your name, you respect and help your neighbor, a nice, happy, quaint community but also a place where I can have my shopping needs met, where the young men and women of our township have the entertainment they so desperately need, and a place where our kids will want to stay.
I think we’re at a crossroads in terms of what this community is becoming. We should speak our minds about what we’d like it to be. So let us discuss it!
Tags: Bedford Township