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Editorial
Buena Vista’s Town Square was a flurry of activity this past Saturday. A week after timber framers descended on the community to build the stage cover, the stage was occupied with musical and dancing entertainment as part of the city’s annual Mountain Day celebration. Ideal autumn weather enticed celebrants to fill the streets of downtown and Town Square itself to create a huge gathering for this annual event.
The timber framers, under the direction of Grigg and Cindy Mullen, have made an enormous contribution to Town Square in constructing the market pavilion this past spring and the stage cover this fall. Kurt Rosenberger did the design and led the build project. The timber framers were assisted by numerous volunteers from within the community who prepared meals and helped in a variety of other ways.
As Kristina Ramsey, Buena Vista’s director of community development, noted last week, “The project has gone beyond the creation of a community space – it has been the result of countless volunteers, hard work and a shared community vision that has shaped the heart of downtown.” Town Square, she said, “has quickly become a symbol of connection, a natural gathering place for events, and a place where the community will create memories and foster a sense of belonging for generations to come.”
Moving forward, Ramsey continued, “We want the community’s help to name the space that represents our collective effort. We’ve been using ‘Town Square’ as a placeholder so we could easily reference the project. Now, the time has come to find a name that truly fits.”
Community members are being given an opportunity to submit their name suggestions. A selection committee of local leaders, stakeholders and others will narrow the submissions to a few finalists that best fit the long-term vision for the city. Once the finalists are announced, the community will have the opportunity to cast their vote by making a donation of any amount, and the name with the highest dollar amount in donations will become the official name. “The Town Square project is one more example of how friends and neighbors in our city come together to build their community; this is core of what makes Buena Vista remarkable,” said Mayor Tyson Cooper. “We invite and welcome participation in the naming process and are excited for the outcome. What an amazing time to live in Buena Vista!”
The winning name will be revealed once all votes are accounted for, cementing Town Square as a vibrant space for the community to come together for years to come. “Together we built it, and together we will name it,” exclaimed Ramsey, summing up this collective community effort.
To nominate a name, visit https://www.buenavistava. org/togetherwenameit/.
