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Section 3: Report of Findings VII. Health and Safety VIII. Social Cohesion, Culture and Recreation IX. Economy, Employment, and Welfare |
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Community residents in focus groups, community visioning sessions, and surveys indicated their “ideal” conditions to achieve social cohesion and enhance cultural and recreational opportunities. Ideal conditions are those that they would value for themselves, their families and their community. There is a desire for the community to work together for the betterment of the society regardless of individual political, religious, ethnic or economic differences. Among the many ideas raised in these surveys were: involve more people in community decisions; pay positive attention to diversity and better town/gown relationships; create a magnet school for performing arts; and promote more cultural events and recreational opportunities. The community definitely supports, enjoys and wants more music in the parks! The 31 year support for the Cortland Repertory Theater located in the turn-of-the-century pavilion on Little York Park gives evidence of the on-going community appreciation for the arts and music. Other suggestions include crafts and music at the Farmers Market, music for Munchkins (musical performances by high school kids for young children), a cultural center and a children's museum. The Children's Museum is now an actuality. It opened in November of 2001 under the auspices of the SUNY Cortland COPC grant. The River Trail and the Sports Complex were seen as two very positive steps in the right direction for increased social cohesion. There is also an element of community excitement associated with the rebirth of the old Cortland Arts Council. Now named the Cultural Council of Cortland County, it embarked on 3 projects for 2001. These included the publication of a guide to cultural resources in the county, an assessment of the cultural needs and a quarterly newsletter/calendar. The Cortland Arts Grants Program exists to fund local arts projects. |
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The city of Cortland and the Cortland County Planning Department are both involved with the creation of comprehensive plans to guide future growth and development. Meetings scheduled before regular Common Council meetings have solicited community input for the city plan. Town meetings do the same for the county plan. Cortlandville hired consultants to create a master plan for zoning, land use and aquifer protection. Public hearings have been held in June 2002 on this plan. Rates of violence are generally lower in neighborhoods with higher social cohesion. In the city of Cortland, Neighborhood Watch committees and ward meetings provide opportunities for citizens to work together for this and other goals. In 2001 and 2002, there have been a series of town meetings to discuss the proposed River Trail project and draw community ideas from the riverfront property owners, naturalists, historians, recreational experts, cyclists, walkers, runners, the disabled, the commercial interests, and those who fish, canoe and kayak. SUNY Cortland serves as a major cultural contributor to the community. Plays, art exhibits, and musical and dance events are brought to the campus and shared with the community. State-of-the-art recreational facilities are also shared with the community. The physical education emphasis of the college sets a fitness model for the county. A new SUNY stadium opened in 2002 to welcome the Senior Games. Many thousands will be drawn to Cortland for the Empire Games, drum and bugle competitions and other major events. A year of centennial celebrations for the city of Cortland in the year 2000 brought new spirit and interest in civic renewal. The Centennial Committee created a yearlong celebration of Cortland commencing with a First Night celebration on New Year's Eve on Main Street. The Cortland Standard, one of the few surviving locally owned daily newspapers, did a centennial series to remind us of our historical roots -- the Underground Railroad, the McGrawville College, Victorian architecture, and the famous social reformers (Susan B. Anthony, Henry Ward Beecher, etc.) who spoke at the Cobblestone Church. Even greater citizen involvement is a community ideal that could be fostered with school requirements and employer policies for community service. The annual United Way Day of Caring is a fine example of this giving back. SUNY Cortland student internships, service-learning, and cooperative educational experiences are wonderful learning experiences for the students that greatly contribute to the community. |
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Cortland Counts: An Assessment of Health and Well Being in Cortland County NY The Seven Valleys Health Coalition, Inc. These five organizations make up the Cortland Community Assessment Team (CAT) Seven Valleys Health Coalition, Inc.
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