Improving Erie

I have just read an article in the Erie Times News (the article can be read here) which describes a plan to improve the Civic Center by renovations and incorporating it with Jerry Uht Park. Just as an overview, the new improvements to the arena would include a new common entrance area for both Tullio Arena and Jerry Uht Park along with a proposed "Team Shop" which would house merchandise. More improvements would include large glass walls to the lobby areas which would overlook an amphitheatre area that in the winter would be flooded and used as an ice skating rink. It also would make much needed seating improvements and a restaurant area along with many other improvements. A detailed video narrated by local architect Ross Rectenwald (which a link is located within the article) shows the improvements. It runs about eight minutes long and after watching it, I was very excited for the improvements.

As much as some of us would hate to say it, Erie is becoming a tourist town, but this is something that we have to deal with. As much as Erie has a deep manufacturing history, these days for the most part are gone, and we have to try to look into other avenues. We need to make Erie a city that people are going to want to come to and visit; not only to boost the economy, but to leave lasting positive memories so that people will want to return.

I have visited other cities which have similar arenas, one being Grand Rapids, Michigan. When you enter their arena (named Van Andel Arena - seen to the left), it has a similar entrance way of glass overlooking the outside. The seating is definitely better than the Tullio Arena and has more features, some of which would be included in the proposed improvements. This is definitely something that will only benefit the city. Both locals and tourists alike would be able to enjoy this area year round. It would also help give another boost to the area which, like many areas in the city, are desperately needed.

The one thing that bothers me about people in this city is that more and more people seem to complain about how bad the city is and how things need to change, but when it comes down to things changing, people get into an uproar about it. Prime example, the casino. Erie had opportunities for it, but with a combination of a mayor who was into this for personal gain and not a citywide gain, and complaining neighbors, Summit Township is now the area that is gaining and not the city as it could have. Now there is another company which is beginning to occupy the former IP site that is into alternative fuels. The way it is going to generate this fuel is by destroying old tires, part of which includes burning them. Even though the company states that there will not be any harm to area residents, people still complain that this would be a problem. I can't understand why these people who for decades lived with International Paper in their backyards, and now with stronger EPA and DEP regulations, as well as improvements in cleaning the air, why people would fear something that could make this town better.

I find it really hard to understand why some people in Erie fear change this way. If Erie residents want to see the town become revitalized, it isn't going to be done with big manufacturing. International Paper is not coming back, the parts of GE that have been shipped to other parts of the country, or internationally, are not coming back. Erie needs to focus on improving what we still have and trying to attract people from out of town to help boost the economy. Erie and the surrounding areas in the county have so much to offer, that we should be trying to embrace that and make it a better place for not just tourism, but for local residents.