The following comments were taken from letters, response forms, and E-mail messages sent to the Great Neighborhoods project.

"Why do senior citizens get a free place to play and kids/teens don't? We all can't afford the boys club or YMCA and we should have a teen center for activities. Seniors have more money and a way to get around than we do so we need the city to give us a place to meet, play, learn crafts, have culture and do what seniors do for free. Please!"

"What Eugene Police are considering. Police officers are assigned to certain neighborhoods and business districts. It seems very good because the officers would learn their districts' needs and problems and be more efficient in helping the people. A citizen would be more apt to trust officers and realize that they can serve us and not be a threat. Back to the days of our friendly neighborhood cop to help."

"I wish people could at least make an effort to change their attitude towards other races. We're all the same underneath the skin color. I'm Hispanic and I've been here in Oregon for about two months. It makes me feel really bad when people look at me rude or make nasty comments towards me and my husband."

"I'm very concerned about traffic in Albany and Hwy 34 between Corvallis and Albany."

"I have concerns about on street parking. It seems if the cars do not fit in the garage or driveway, they have too many. They are a traffic hazard."

" PROJECT REPORT Moratorium on multiple housing. PROJECT REPORT Travel on Queen Avenue without constant delays by trains. PROJECT REPORT Sidewalks PROJECT REPORTfor safety PROJECT REPORT in southwest Albany behind West Albany High School. PROJECT REPORT The impossible, back to circa 1970, for a hometown feeling, less population, traffic, and crime. PROJECT REPORT Streets in good condition."

"A moratorium on new housing development would be a very good thing at this time, at least until the City gets caught up on street projects, sewer projects, etc. Why are trees that lose their leaves being planted when all they do is clog our drains when they shed in the fall?"

" PROJECT REPORT Lack of street lights in residential areas. PROJECT REPORT Vandalism, domestic violence, suspected drug traffic in residential areas, laundromats, and Dari-Marts. PROJECT REPORT Teenagers skipping school, hanging out at Takena Park and cemetery. PROJECT REPORT Harassing of neighbors' animals - letting them out of yards and confined areas. PROJECT REPORT Cars speeding late hours and early morning hours."

"Is there any way the city could make the water rates more affordable for the people to be able to keep the lawns green during the summer? There are so many dried up lawns in Albany and it detracts from the looks of the town."

"There must be something done about the severe problem that is happening at southbound Waverly and the Queen Street intersection. Please change the southbound lane from 16th to Queen to 'Right Turn Only'."

"The bottleneck at Waverly and Queen where two lanes merge into one going south."

"While expensive residential areas are controlled by zoning laws and other restrictions, in other more modest areas there is occasional shocking eyesore. Can't some reasonable level of general maintenance be established to halt trashing of a neighborhood?"

"Having more police patrol in my neighborhood, dealing with drug houses, and dealing with teenagers vandalizing my fence and walking around at night."

"Please remove the unnecessary stop signs recently put up in west Albany."

"I live on south Main. There are no cross streets between 19th and 29th, and cars go 50 miles per hour. I have to use a walker and I can't dodge cars. So please do something to slow them down."

"Taking better care of our wetlands. There is too much building going on land designated as such. There places are essential in Oregon PROJECT REPORTwhere we get so much rain PROJECT REPORT to trap the water and cut down on flooding and runoff which helps pollute our Willamette River."

" PROJECT REPORT The primary designation of streets should be for transportation with consideration for all modes of citizen transport whether it be car, bike, walk, wheelchair, etc. Parking should be considered as a secondary purpose of streets. PROJECT REPORT To cut down on traffic congestion, small commercial zones within neighborhoods should be encouraged to provide basic consumer needs. PROJECT REPORT Parks, open space, walking paths as well as urban forestry are all important parts of a healthy community. Providing opportunities to incorporate outdoor activities in a natural environment brings balance to our ever more congested lives. It is healthy for individuals and families, and helps us feel more connected to our community. PROJECT REPORT Goals of the City as a whole PROJECT REPORTas determined in processes such as this one PROJECT REPORT should dominate in planning decisions."

"I would like to see more bicycle parking available, both in the downtown area around 1st through 3rd and in the shopping areas of town. I would like to see a park for 'big' kids. There's nothing available for the 11-to-17 age group that meets their interests. My ideal site would have a community club house that would offer ping pong, billiards, table games, a reading room and the ability to host Friday or Saturday night dances. Surround this with grounds that are designed for basketball, racquetball, tennis, a skateboard park, an off-road bicycle terrain, space for roller-skating, maybe even a shallow-ponded area that could be used for ice skating in the winter."

"My biggest concerns center around the poor condition of our streets PROJECT REPORTi.e. 34th street. Also, I am glad there will be more regulation of building as our city is growing at such a rapid pace. The small town feeling is what drew me to Albany and has kept me here for 18 years. It'd be a shame to lose that. Our downtown area is starting to come alive again. I have always enjoyed the downtown and was sad when business moved out. Anything we can do to encourage preserving that area would be time/money well spent."

"Our first concern is the lack of the business owners and planners of Albany to create a good-looking city. We wish business owners would update or at least keep the facades of their businesses clean and tidy. In addition we wish that homeowners would do so as well especially along Salem Street. We also would like a more concerted effort to draw better businesses to the mall area. One personal problem we have found in North Albany is the lack of dog control."

"By far one of the most important issues for Albany, Oregon, is pollution. Albany can be a very appealing city to visit when the air is clean and breathable. It is sad that this time of year the old charm of the city can not be seen from the outside."

"Get more sidewalks in Albany. People have to walk in the street. Restrict the parking of RVs or boats, either on the street or in sight of traffic."

"The Planning Commission should not allow new homes to be constructed without giving attention to safe routes in and out of the new communities. Heavy excavation equipment is allowed to be transported on existing streets in residential areas doing heavy damages. The damage remains and gets worse over the years. You can have a great neighborhood, but if it isn't safe to leave because of traffic, you are at a loss for a great neighborhood."\

"Thank you so much for asking for our input on keeping Albany a great place to live! When taking neighborhood walks for exercise I have frequently been irritated by the amount of litter lying about. It seems that litter begets litter causing the problem to be compounded over time. My suggestion is that when people go for walks that they carry a plastic shopping bag with handles and be ready to pick up trash as they go. I wear gloves and am careful about what I pick up PROJECT REPORTthis is NOT a job for children under 10 years of age PROJECT REPORT. I have found that I get quite an aerobic workout while picking up trash: walking, stooping, lifting, walking, bending, lifting, etc. This is good for the body, good for the soul, and great for our neighborhoods. I live near one of the high schools and for many blocks surrounding the school I can find quantities of litter. I don't want to live in a trashy looking place so I have chosen to be part of the solution and get the healthy benefits! I also get a bonus. Many times I find pop cans along my way which I figure is a great reward for all of my 'hard' work."

"Safe exit from Lehigh Acres - maybe out to Waverly or lights on Santiam."

I would like to see more summer programs for elementary school children. These could be summer arts programs as a suggestion."

Constructing a paved or concrete bicycle-pedestrian path between 38th Avenue and Geary Street near Oak School. Extending the Periwinkle Trail north and the Monteith Trail northeast until they intersect at Bowman Park. Extending the Periwinkle Trail southeast to the Grand Prairie Drive overpass."

"Is it possible to time the lights at both First Street and Second Street where they cross Lyons and Ellsworth? If you are going into downtown on First, the wait at both lights is extremely long. At times, only a few cars getting through, causing a wait through two lights. An answer could be cameras at the 4 locations to better time lights and to control speeders."

"NOT giving away local tax revenues/incentives to multi-million dollar companies to locate ugly buildings with low-pay jobs in our community."

Great neighborhoods will occur when citizens match their desire for good streets, safety, parks and open spaces, recreation for kids, etc., with their willingness to vote for tax measures to support the needs. Great neighborhoods will happen when people volunteer and support the United Way and its agencies. Absolutely essential ingredients to great neighborhoods are great schools."

"I would like to let you know that the idea of planted islands on our busy streets are a good idea for beautification, but can also be considered great traffic hazards."

" PROJECT REPORT Too many stop signs on Washington. Reduce speed limits in all directions within city limits - no 40's. No more islands - they are dangerous not helps. PROJECT REPORT Outlaw semis use of residential streets - keep them on highways. PROJECT REPORT Don't fill every nook and cranny with apartments. PROJECT REPORT Enhance the airport. PROJECT REPORT Don't sacrifice courthouse grounds for parking."

"I want to thank you inviting me and for getting Albany's citizens involved in their community and hopefully their neighborhoods. I agree with the need for a Balanced Community. There should be goals set to assure how we grow and to keep it balanced, i.e. traffic, commercial, industrial, residential etc. Creating a meeting like Great Neighborhoods where community goals are heard and put down on paper is a great place to start."