Designing a Better City

Marco Island was designed as a coastal community, but not as a future city. From an urban planning and design perspective, there are many aspects of the city that could be improved. One example is the road network, which is fragmented and inefficient. Widening some roads and adding bridges could be a solution. Another example is the canal system. Should it be a secondary transportation network for pleasure boats and water taxis, or an aquaculture preserve for marine life? What is the best possible use for the canal system?

Cities develop in stages, from establishment to maturity. Marco Island has completed the establishment stage by creating a municipal administration and governing policies, along with essential elements such as public safety services, utilities, schools, and shopping districts. Now in the refinement stage, the city needs to make adjustments to some of the infrastructure and policies and start planning for the future. What type of city does Marco Island want to become? Does it want to be a tourist destination, a center for high technology, alternative energy research, or international trade? A city without a goal or vision may not have long-term success.

The city council needs to establish a list of goals each year to improve the city. The administration needs to implement effective solutions to solve problems in an efficient manner. I have many ideas for improvements, to design Marco Island as a better city. What changes would you like in Marco Island?