Second Grade Planners

Community involvement in the planning process has become increasingly important in recent years. And now, in Holden, Massachusetts, a new method of gathering public input is tapping the desires of the town's youngest residents: elementary school students.

The students have been asked to submit their ideas about what their town should look like in the future. Their ideas have been articulated just as one would expect: coloring crayons.

"The suggestion to involve students originated with the Holden Master Plan Committee, where, Co-chair Mike Wronski says, the committee decided they didn't want the town's master plan to be consultant driven, but community-driven. And like DeFrino, the committee realized children are key to planning a community's future."

"Some youngsters in the Wachusett Region may already be tapped into this process. Children in Holden's summer recreation program and those who attended Holden Days have already drawn some pictures highlighting what they value in town. Wronski says there are already some clear differences between what children see and what adults have already identified as priorities in the community."