FRI _ meeting

Earlier this week, the Ferguson Road Initiative (FRI), a grassroots organization, which started in 1998 with the mission “to transform far East Dallas into a safe, beautiful, prosperous and proud community,” particularly through economic revitalization, hosted a second meeting at the Dallas Arboretum to talk with neighbors about its vision to build the first regional or multi-generational recreation center along Ferguson.

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Building the center is an old dream the initiative is reviving. Read more about the background here.

There are several options for what the facility could offer the community — classrooms, arts and crafts, exercise equipment, a community garden, a playground, etc. — and the initiative is currently working to gauge what nearby neighbors want.

At the meeting on Monday, neighbors listened to a presentation and then they were asked to chat amongst themselves and fill out a sheet, which had a list of possible options for the facility. The participants were asked to pick the four things which were most important to them.

In the end, it was determined that the four things neighbors deemed most important were: a fitness center, trails, a trail head and an indoor pool.

Those results are not set in stone, of course. FRI is still waiting on the results of a feasibility study. They will continue to tap the community pulse in order to determine the best use for the space.

Then on Jan. 27, there will be a presentation of the facility, based on the feedback of the community, at the Dallas Arboretum from 6-9 p.m.