The City of Whitewater is creating a culture that supports opportunities to walk, bike and be active, thanks to a broad coalition of residents and local leaders in the community. In 2013, Whitewater established a bicycle and pedestrian master with a vision for a connected network linking people and places throughout the city. They’ve made progress, thanks in part to the adoption of a Complete Streets ordinance in 2015, a wayfinding signage plan in 2016, and ongoing efforts to improve parks across the city. These policies will gradually enhance the existing network of 11 parks and over 13 miles of trails. A recent update of Starin Park, for example, added new outdoor adult fitness equipment, which has been heavily used due to the park’s central location in proximity to university students, senior housing, and family residences. Additionally, Whitewater encourages people to get outside and use these community assets through its many program offerings throughout the year.

Partnerships keep Whitewater moving forward. City staff and departments routinely collaborate to maximize the impact of their work. When the wayfinding signage plan ran into funding challenges, Whitewater’s Parks and Public Works Departments realized they could include the signage into routine park and street improvement projects. Similarly, although Whitewater’s Complete Streets ordinance is advisory rather than mandatory, it provides partners with a goal and helps them think the best use of resources when implementing Complete Streets designs in every project possible. Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3) is another important partner. A local non-profit comprised of partners in health, business, non-profit, education and other sectors, the organization provides expertise and communicates from a health perspective. The city and W3 are key partners of the Discover Whitewater Series, a fun walk/run series, which has become a source of pride among residents of all ages and means to attract visitors.

A spirit of innovation and collective problem solving in Whitewater contributes to an optimistic sense of the future. After the city lost its only grocery store several years ago, a broad coalition of residents, businesses and local officials began working to establish a community owned grocery market. The city’s bicycle and pedestrian plan will help ensure that the market, when built, will be accessible by walking and biking and will provide access to fresh, healthy food for more residents. In this way and so many others, Whitewater is building a small city that boasts a big quality of life.