The City of Tucson sought professional public engagement services to prepare for the possibly controversial sale of City-owned land near Irvington Road and Houghton Road, known as the Civano Parcel, that had long been set aside for sale.
Gordley advised the City on an outreach plan to inform the public about the sale and open space usage near the Fantasy Island bike trail system. We assisted the City in identifying and inviting stakeholder meeting participants, helping the City collaborate with the community and biking enthusiasts through multiple user-group meetings and one public meeting. The level of public engagement resulted in a positive outcome for what was projected to be a contentious process.
The sale of this property represented an important source of revenue for the City, but the property was popular with bicyclists who had a decade-long identification with it due to the bike trail system. The City sought to preserve its relationship with this population, so we strategized with the City to create a plan that met the needs of all involved.
Through a series of successful small group meetings, in which the biking population saw their interests were heard and considered, our team was able to develop a culture of communication, trust and shared goals that resulted in a community-wide presentation, staged by Gordley, that was very well received. The success of the public meeting enabled the City to move forward with a sale providing the needed funds for the City and preserving the most valued recreational areas for the community.