On Monday, neighbors gathered at the First Brethren Church on East Center Street for the first neighborhood meeting for residents in the East Market Street corridor. The area includes the south side of East Center Street from Detroit Street to Argonne and south to the railroad tracks. Housing Opportunities of Warsaw helped the neighborhood organize the first meeting, and reported a good turnout from residents. During the meeting, there were lots of activities for all ages to enjoy. The children drew pictures of what they wanted a park in their neighborhood to look like and have inside of it. Adults filled out a survey to determine what kind of activities and discussions they want to have at neighborhood meetings. Everyone enjoyed root beer floats provided by WACD LLC, a local family-owned IT business in Winona Lake. Then everyone gathered together and played a few games of bingo. The bingo prizes were donated privately to assist the neighborhood group in getting started. This was the first meeting to get to know people from the neighborhood. Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner, was there to talk about his neighborhood association and how a website called NextDoor.com was useful to them. Everyone was encouraged to sign up on this site to keep in touch with the East Market Street corridor neighborhood activities. HOW hopes to have an even bigger turnout at the next meeting Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. The location is being discussed. Email Marissa Schramm at mschramm@warsawhousing.com for more information.
