Elgin has a new way to engage residents and get feedback to help shape the city’s future.
Engage Elgin is a new online platform that gives residents multiple ways to stay informed and become involved. It can be accessed at engage.elginil.gov.
“Our goal with Engage Elgin is to create a trusted space where residents can learn, engage and help drive the decisions that shape our city,” said Jeff Knox, director of communications and engagement. “It’s about making sure all voices are heard. It will complement, not replace, our current engagement methods, serving as an additional resource for the community.”
Unlike the city’s main website, which focuses on sharing information, Engage Elgin is designed for two-way interaction, Knox said.
The site has information on Elgin’s Activity Mobility Plan, Climate Action Plan, Accessible Streets and Sidewalks, Elgin’s Lead Response, Sports Complex expansion and road construction updates, including Dundee Avenue and the Route 20 roundabout.
It provides a lot of information on projects being done in the city. For example, residents can learn the background of the Sports Complex expansion, including a timeline, documents relating to the project and a history of the complex.
The city is currently expanding the complex, located off McLean Boulevard, to add three lighted athletic fields, a new playground, three parking areas, trails, restrooms, a concession building, and a shaded pavilion, along with a new entrance on U.S. Route 31.
Within the site, residents can answer a poll asking what their favorite addition is to the complex and get live updates through a live construction cam.
There’s also information about who’s in charge of the project and links to provide feedback to city officials. “All feedback is shared directly with the city staff leading the project. It is reviewed along with technical and financial considerations and helps shape recommendations, plans, and decisions,” Knox said.
The project pages will be updated as milestones are reached, such as plan drafts, council actions or construction updates, he said.
It gives residents the most current information, and it’s available 24/7 for residents to use at their convenience, he said.
The city is employing a community engagement platform called Social Pinpoint, which is used by municipalities across the country, Knox said. The Community and Engagement team handles the content and design.
Residents will have the chance to give input on future projects, Knox said. “For example, surveys on the Active Mobility Plan and Climate Action Plan directly shape those plans. Active projects are already in development, but updates and opportunities for questions remain available, he said.
The Active Mobility Plan deals with improving safety and making Elgin a safer place to walk and bike. The Climate Action Plan allows residents to share their experiences with climate change and provide suggestions to be considered in the plan.
Future projects will utilize the platform to gather resident input early and present information in more interactive ways, according to Knox.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.