BEAUMONT, Texas — Many Southeast Texans headed to the Downtown Event Centre in Beaumont Thursday evening to make their voices heard.
The Beaumont Downtown Development Committee organized the forum to kick-start the conversation regarding the revitalization of the city's core.
The committee is made up of business owners, developers, main street board members and stakeholders.
The meeting's turnout impressed city leaders as residents were eager to bring forth ideas.
"We have guests coming in from out of town and there's actually no place to bring the kids we need some nice water parks or something," said Beaumont resident Toni Croff.
Beaumont resident Robert Croff says meetings like these are important to get a feel for how people feel towards progress in the city.
"I'm about progress. We need to progress. I think we're behind in a lot of areas," Robert Croff said.
Attendees received stickers to put on poster boards that were set up around the room and cards to drop in suggestion boxes.
The interactive experience helped people prioritize their favorite ideas.
"What things do you like about downtown, maybe what you don't like, what you'd like to see events. So the whole idea behind the poster board is to try to promote that conversation," said Assistant City Manager of Development Services Chris Boone.
As residents they looked at images of what downtown Beaumont could look like, they had a couple ideas of their own
"With restaurants on Crockett Street, even housing would be a good idea," said Beaumont resident Renita Allen.
Allen and her husband own an automotive care business in downtown. They agree that things need to change.
"We want to see the improvement downtown. We have some ideas that we would like to share to see if things can get done with it," Allen said.
From revitalizing historic buildings, to adding security and bringing in new art, the community gave the downtown development committee a lot of ideas.
"Stuff for younger adults as well as middle aged people to enjoy when they want just an outing or enjoy themselves," said Beaumont resident Reginald Davis.
All of the suggestions will be collected and reviewed by Beaumont city leaders.
"As many voices we get into this project the better. We're pleased about the turnout," Boone said.
Boone says the city has also hired a Houston-based design firm that will help take ideas from the drawing board to reality.