Editor's note: This is the fourth story in a series examining the past, present and future of Eudora as the city drafts its next comprehensive plan that will serve as a guide for development for the next 20 years.
BY LUCIE KRISMAN
Whether it’s events like EudoraFest, working on retail redevelopment, or prioritizing sports and parks activities, Eudora resident Gary Pratt said the town is made stronger by the efforts of the people who live there.
“The people are our strength,” Pratt said. “We love each other. We love working to help each other. We have a lot of networks of families and groups inside this community that are all connected in a way that strengthens the entire community.”
As the city of Eudora begins to plan its future development for the next 20 years with its newest comprehensive plan, Pratt said that while it is not possible to get every resident’s opinion, the fact that residents are listened to will unify the town.
“This is a great town,” Pratt said. “The fact that we’re on our second or third comprehensive plan, trying to make sure everybody’s voice is heard, is exactly what going to make us successful in achieving the goals that we have.”
In the midst of the city forming its next comprehensive plan this spring, residents told The Eudora Times what they hope to see in the future.
‘We don’t want to lose our small town feel’
With his family’s longtime involvement redeveloping the subdivision Wakarusa Ridge Estates, Rex Tedrow said some of his biggest priorities for the city are an emphasis on more parks and industrial businesses to attract people to Eudora, as well as more residential properties to prevent a strain on the city to find more revenue.
“I think the key to Eudora being successful is to keep that small-town feeling but still have growth and more well-paying jobs,” Tedrow said. “In my opinion, they’re just going to have a hard time recruiting businesses here without more rooftops.”
After attending the public forum where residents voiced their interest in Eudora’s future, Pratt noticed that residents are united in their desire to keep the small-town characteristic alive, whether through small local businesses or a neighborly community.
“If you look at those meetings, we all want the same thing,” Pratt said. “We want to not lose that character while having smart growth. We don’t want to lose our small-town feel.”
Eudora High School senior Emily Howard has also felt that small town feel, especially during her time at school. She hopes to see expansion in Eudora schools, upkeep of parks facilities and more places for the community to gather.
“You hear a last name and you most likely know them,” Howard said. “At least in the schools, I’ve always felt very close to those around me. It’s very nice to get to know everyone.”
Glenn Jackson said the city’s assets, such as its school systems and utilities, would benefit from responsible growth.
“It would maintain a standard of living that we’ve grown accustomed to as far as having good schools, law enforcement, fire and water service, things like that,” Jackson said. “We’re not perfect, but we’ve had it pretty good here.”
Stephanie Jones said an active community is important in Eudora’s future and voiced enthusiasm about the skate park project Eudora Middle School teacher Cynthia Andrews’ seventh-grade students have been working on.
“We really need a ‘get people moving’ sort of thing to really connect the community,” Jones said. “As you get a younger demographic moving into the area, the more we can provide people to move and get active, I think that makes for a healthier community and more outgoing community.”
Jones also hopes to see restaurants with more variety in Eudora, including sit-down restaurants with healthy options, and less of larger box stores like Walmart and Target.
“It would just be nice to keep it more of a local variety,” Jones said. “Now more than ever, we’re seeing how much we want to rely on local business.”
On his walk to his downtown office, Bill Vigneron notices a lack of sidewalks. Vigneron said new sidewalks could contribute to Eudora being a safer and more active place.
“People would be more willing to walk if they had a safe place to walk,” Vigneron said.
City Commissioner Jolene Born said a plan for new sidewalks will take time but will benefit the community with safety and connectivity.
“I want us to be able to get out and move without having to walk on the streets to get from point A to point B,” Born said. “So that we can walk to places in town without having to be limited.”
‘A real opportunity to grow’
When he first moved to Eudora in 1986, Vigneron said the school facilities there were a concern for his children.
“Since then, that probably marched the launching pad of where Eudora is today,” Vigneron said about the changes the school system has made since then. “I have come to realize how important good schools are to a community. We are very lucky to have the quality of education that we do.”
Vigneron and his wife have hosted multiple exchange students over the years, and he is happy with the education and treatment they had in Eudora.
“With a small school and a smaller enrollment, it gives almost every student a chance to participate,” Vigneron said. “The schools are one thing we can take a lot of pride in.”
Not only are schools a source of pride in Eudora, but for Howard, as a student, the schools are where growth should happen, too.
“I think Eudora has a real opportunity to grow if they do it right,” Howard said. “I think they’re really trying, but there’s a lot of children in our community and I think they need to cater toward that. If they want to continue to see growth, they’re going to have to continue growth in the schools. I think they need to see the value in expanding our schools and giving children the best education that they can.”
Tedrow said he thinks parks and unique businesses, such as a hardware store and the Quilting Bits and Pieces shop on Main Street, could help draw people into Eudora as well as keeping residents around who work elsewhere.
“When people drive into town, what do they see?” Tedrow said. “I wish we could get a sizable park and plop it right there by K-10 and make it look so appealing that people would come here.”
Future generations of Eudora
For future generations and in future years, Vigneron hopes to see more available housing and hard work to maintain the schools.
“I’ve seen things grow here and I’ve seen things improve,” Vigneron said. “I really think the schools are what attracts people. You can’t do much about your location, but you can work hard to make sure your schools are well-funded and accredited. I think schools are the key.”
Tedrow said he hopes to see Eudora maintain its image and make its own name for itself.
“I think we’ve got a lot of great people in Eudora,” Tedrow said. “I just hope it becomes less dependent on being a bedroom community and becomes more of a town on its own.”
Jones said she hopes to see younger residents and future generations in Eudora come back after they leave and that members of the community should embrace change.
“I think they’re learning to embrace that,” Jones said. “They’re welcoming some change, but not everybody likes change, and I understand that. In order to get the tax base, we need to keep Eudora at its best, we need to have more change. It may be uncomfortable change, like more houses being built or a stoplight coming to town, but I think that’s what Eudora needs.”
As she makes her decision about college, Howard said she sees herself finding a smaller community in the future like the one she grew up in.
“There’s just a sense of pride being from Eudora,” Howard said. "I never want to see that lost.”
Born said in whatever direction Eudora’s future goes, a community focus will benefit the town through any changes.
“Our town is about community,” Born said. “As long as we hold that value of community in place and we use that as a focus in our development, I think we’re going to do fine.”
Miss our first story in the series about where Eudora was in the early 2000s when the first comprehensive plan was made? Find it here.
Miss our second story in the series about what city officials think is needed in the new plan? Find it here.
Miss our third story in the series about the business community's perspective? Find it here.
Reach reporter Lucie Krisman at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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