The document discusses a community engagement event called "Walk & Talk & Nuts & Bolts" that was facilitated by the author in Redmond, Washington to involve the local community in planning for the city's historic downtown core. The author created an "Urban Diary" workbook to guide participants through the historic area and collect feedback on aspects of the built environment through open-ended questions. Twenty-six community members participated in the walking meeting and provided input. The results of the project include the successful community event and a case study report analyzing the collected feedback to inform the city's further engagement efforts.

1. Public Participation in Historic Preservation Planning!
Engaging the Community into Planning for Redmond’s Historic Core!
!Elena Umanskaya
Introduction!
Historic preservation is a tool to reinforce the well-
being of our communities and ensure sustainable
development. In addition to strengthening sense of place,
civic pride, and identity, historic preservation provides
economic benefits and serves as a vehicle for neighborhood
revitalization. This project is a part of a strategic planning
process, which was undertaken by the City of Redmond to
enhance economic and neighborhood vitality in the city’s
Historic Downtown Core. The intent of this project is to
address the community engagement portion of an integrated
planning approach by conducting an interactive community
event. The primary methods included research, site
observation and analysis, stakeholder outreach, and
preparation of “Walk & Talk & Nuts & Bolts” event in
partnership with FeetFirst. The final product consists of two
elements: a report outlining an effective public participation
strategy based on a case study of Redmond’s Historic Core,
and the community event held on June 6, 2014.!
“Walk &Talk & Nuts & Bolts”!
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What is “Walk & Talk & Nuts &
Bolts”? !
It is a walking community meeting which I
helped to conduct in order to engage the
local community into the conversation
with the city leaders regarding the future
of Redmond’s Historic Core. This event
led participants through both the new
and historic portions of Redmond's Old
Town. My role was to facilitate an “Urban
Diary” activity and planning for the
historic area. !
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Methodology!
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The process of multi-sectoral cooperation initiated an
interactive community engagement event “Walk & Talk &
Nuts & Bolts”, which I facilitated on June 6th, 2014. In
planning for and organizing this community engagement
event, I went through the following steps: !
1) Site observation and analysis; 2) collaboration with
stakeholders; 3) development of an “Urban Diary” walking
activity 3) promotion; 4) organization; 5) facilitation; 5)
preliminary event analysis.!
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Results!
Reflection!
My senior project went through a series of
transformations as a result of the fluid nature of planning
process. One of my main takeaways from the project is
understanding of the importance and complexity of
community engagement in neighborhood planning.
Engagement is not easy for local governments, but
consistency and transparency makes the process easier
and more productive over time. Public participation
should be encouraged by governments for local
decision-making and the choice of outreach tools play a
critical critical role for success in this process. Multi-
sector partnerships between municipal agencies, private
sector, and non-profits can significantly increase the
effectiveness of public engagement. !
Community members care for places they
live in, and they have a wealth of ideas which must be
considered and translated into local preservation plans. !
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Check out more info about my event on http://
www.redmond.gov/Government/HistoricPreservation/
Multi-Sector Cooperation
for Community Engagement
To assist the city of
Redmond in community
engagement program, I facilitated
cooperation between a number of
stakeholders, which included
Feet First – a local nonprofit,
promoting walkable community
across Washington through
interactive means; business
owners; and local community
organizations. !
What is an “Urban Diary”?!
It is an interactive tool to facilitate
participatory decision-making. It is a
workbook, which I prepared to assist in
collecting community perspective on
Historic Core. The workbook features a
tour map which guides participants to the
areas of concern, and a set of 11
questions regarding aspects of the
character and built environment of the
Historic Core. This workbook offers an
opportunity to experience a place in a new
way, conducive to the development of
ideas for enhancements in Historic Core. !
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Examples of Questions!
Some of the questions I prepared for the workbook:!
• How would you enhance the façade along Leary Way? What would
you preserve, enhance, and/or omit? What would you suggest for
improving the design and aesthetics of O’Leary Park? What would
you recommend as treatments, designs, and activities?!
• Some cities have been helping improve alleys for beautification and
as community gathering places. Recognizing this is a private alley,
what would you enjoy seeing or experiencing in Redmond’s alleys?!
• Observe the streetscape of Leary Way: What would you enhance and
what needs to be retained?!
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Historic Core tour map and
stops for the Urban Diary
activity
Community Workbook
The results of my senior project include:!
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1. “Walk & Talk & Nuts & Bolts” event;!
2. A case study report outlining an
effective community engagement
strategy.!
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The community engagement event was
assessed as successful based on the
number of participants (twenty six), their
general reaction, and effectiveness of the
generated feedback. !
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As a part of my case study report, I
analyzed the feedback and consolidated it
into a set of primary suggestions for the
city regarding the Historic Core.!
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The richness of the collected feedback
offered a platform for the city to base off of
in developing next community workshop.!
Promo poster
Introductions of community
members, city planning leaders,
and feetfirst.
City planner explains public
projects to the community
during the first part of the tour
Walk and Talk of the Historic
Core
Preparing for an Urban Diary
exercise