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I feel hopeful after the presentation about walkable cities that I attended recently. City planner and urban designer Jeff Speck is an engaging speaker. He had lots of great ideas for how Butte can become a more pedestrian and bike-friendly city without compromising the needs of those who require or prefer to use their vehicles. What he presented offers a vision for a more liveable and vibrant town that can attract hip young families with children and retirees, and can support a better business environment uptown.

It was great to see so many B-SB County staff there. We need them to be on board with these progressive ideas.

Mr. Speck reinforced some of the important ideas we heard earlier this year from historic preservationist Donovan Rypkema. Like Rypkema, Speck pointed out that neighborhoods are the fundamental building blocks of a city; they should be compact and diverse in their uses. And that “a street is only as good as its edges.” Butte needs to make sure our “edges,” what is left of the historic urban fabric, is not lost through lack of strategic planning.

I am hopeful that our current administration is taking a more thoughtful approach to our urban issues than we have seen in a while.

— Noorjahan Parwana, 125 W. Copper St., Butte

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