There really is room for improvement

Clinton Herald Editorial

January 31, 2007 09:51 am

— When we ran a five-column, front page headline about the downtown and Lyons business districts Saturday that read “Room for improvement,” we anticipated some negative response from the people whose life work is to promote those two parts of Clinton.
However, the response was quite the opposite, with the powers that be seeming to appreciate the honest treatment of the issue. Their reaction is in line with the frank analysis provided by the Iowa Department of Economic Development, which last summer provided assessments of both districts.
We’re glad to see such open acceptance of the challenges facing downtown and Lyons. That’s not to say the districts aren’t without their positives — there are many, to be sure. But not turning a blind eye to those areas that can be improved upon shows a willingness and a desire to strive to a higher standard.
Ultimately, anyone who looks at downtown Clinton or the Main Avenue portion of Lyons and thinks everything is perfect is misguided. And anyone who looks at the same place and sees nothing but worries is missing the point. But balancing those two, celebrating what works and fixing what doesn’t, is the sign of people who will be tireless advocates for making things better.
The assessments were free, owing to Clinton’s selection as an Iowa Great Places pilot project. It’s an example of just one of the many ways Great Places benefits Clinton in a manner Vision Iowa never could. It’s also a great example of one of the best ways to analyze a community’s progress, by bringing in qualified outsiders to provide a fresh perspective.
We’re glad the assessments were completed, and even more glad their findings are being accepted as a road map for future success and not a criticism of past efforts. Benchmark experiences like this show true long-term potential for the success of both Lyons and downtown Clinton.