In the Wednesday edition of the Orlando Sentinel appears an article about tourism in Kissimmee. Of course, all of the tourist destinations mentioned are in fact not within the city limits, but in the "Kissimmee area." Our first thought was to write the usual "silly media, not knowing your city boundaries" entry, but then we recalled the story of the university sidewalks. Perhaps you've heard it:As the story goes, a new university campus was built. The designers didn't know where to put in sidewalks that would be used, so for the first year of classes, there was simply grass everywhere. At the end of the first year, the designers went out and looked at where paths were worn in the grass, and paved sidewalks over those worn paths. The university students, with their feet, indicated where they wanted sidewalks to be.
So it is becoming in Osceola County. We think that some of the old municipal boundaries don't meet today's reality. Perhaps it's time for some of the local government bodies to do a boundary exchange.
The Loop, and the surrounding commercial areas, clearly don't see value in being associated with Kissimmee and Osceola County. From Ashley Furniture, advertising their location as "South Orlando" to the eateries in The Loop with "Welcome to Hunter's Creek" signs in their lobby, their target market is elsewhere. The Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce recently started a Hunter's Creek chapter. We haven't done anyone any favors with our political boundaries...The Loop is in Osceola County and Loop West is in Kissimmee. We propose giving the whole area over to Orange County, and perhaps in exchange, Orange County can give us a box of whatever magic allows drivers in Orange County to not have to stop at every controlled intersection along John Young Parkway for a red light, like they have to in Kissimmee/Osceola.
As outlined in the Sentinel, the entire 192 tourist strip from Kissimmee west to I-4 is considered Kissimmee, and marketed as such. We say that the brand has been established, so let the boundaries match the marketing. Kissimmee can become the "cheap and cheerful" tourism spot the Sentinel says it is, with the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, the 192 tourist strip, and boundaries right up to the Disney property. Perhaps then Kissimmee could also leverage the 192 Beautivacation district to update the Vine Street corridor.
Osceola County is going to have their hands full with the six Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs) for the next 20+ years. Let them sign over the "urban core" (existing developed area) to Kissimmee, and focus on reinventing county living with the community-center based designs of the new DRIs.
Is it time that boundary perception meets map reality?
9 comments:
That article in the paper points out the whole problem, and I am glad you brought this point up. The actual City of Kissimmee has worked very hard to create a better economic and business climate that seems to elude the rest of the county folks. The just let more and more vacation home subdivisions and hotels pop up for the low end market, and the City of Kissimmee gets tagged with the "cheap" name. The line stops at Medieval Times and you can tell the difference. Maybe instead of adjusting the boundries as you suggest, Celebration and the City of Kissimmee split 192. They take half and we take half. That way the big orange would actually be in the City of Celebration.... Oh wait, they are not a city.. I guess Celebration is really part of Kissimee as well...
Well you have heard it said that jobs know no boundries, but I guess class does. That sad part is that we have spent millions in tourist tax money through our wonderful CVB to brand the image that we are not as good, but we are the cheaper alternative. What idiot came up with that marketing strategy?
None of this matters anyway because now the Regional Government that is controlled by Orange County/Orlando is running the show. We have people that are controlling what happens that not one of us elected into office. This whole thing is a farce. The just want the light rail in here so Osceola County residents can go to work at their new "venues". The sad part is that they are going to make us pay for this mess with our own money.
Heads up WayneWho... The Community Vision report/survey is done and it is not looking very good. They have done some damage control work to make the report look better than what it is, but look at the real numbers and you will see the truth. The report/survey they are getting ready to give will downplay the negativity of the results. I am not sure how or when they are going to release this report, but they should release it before the vote on Monday about the additional gas tax. The report/survey might actually change the vote.
The county has been trying to dissolve the cities for years. The entire plan has been to have one government control it all. Sad because the only think keeping uncontrolled growth at bay is the fact the cities don't fall for the same junk the county does.
Does anyone read the papers? Kissimmee has been working on a plan to revitalize Vine Street and make it a place where people can work, live and shop. Just once I would like you to cover something positive. Even when you think you do, you put a slant on it and turn t into a negative. You can cover both good and bad and still keep you edge or whatever you are trying to do.
I agree that Kissimme has been working on a plan to revitalize Vine Street. They are teaming up with the school board to bring us more traffic.
Don't forget that the city of Saint Cloud has been in an aggressive campaign to annex property into the city limits both south and east of the current boundaries and the County has been apathetic about this. What am I missing?
The county has been trying to dissolve the cities? A merged 911 system that dispatches Osceola County, City of Kissimmee and City of Saint Cloud from one central location under county control could be a significant first step in bringing this to reality. Maybe we need to take a closer look at the players and the motives of this merger?
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