ROCK SPRINGS – Rock Springs continues to make progress on the city’s master plan while also being proactive in the face of hard financial times.
Every project starts with a set of blueprints and in 2012, the city of Rock Springs updated theirs with a new master plan. Not only did the plan focus on revitalizing the downtown, but it also concentrated on the benefitting the city as a whole.
Along with the plan came a list of suggested projects to help diversify Rock Springs. Rock Springs City Planner Jennifer Shields said the city had started or completed 24 projects on that list. She called this a “significant” achievement.
This past year has had several bright spots which Shields highlighted. She reported Sweetwater County School District No. 1 opened up Stagecoach Elementary and are continuing to work together on upcoming future projects as well.
Another highlighted partnership was between the city and Sweetwater Transit Authority Resources. The master plan recommended building a better transit system throughout the area. Shields said the city has continued to support S.T.A.R., and the fixed-route system continues to grow.
Another key piece to the local economic puzzle is the Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Airport. Shields reported the airport recently approved its own master plan as they prepare to move into the future. Shields praised the airport for all its work and said new Airport Manager Devon Brubaker has been a great addition.
The study focused on beautification and making Rock Springs a place people want to stop. Shields said to continue to look at upgrading the city; a beautification committee has been set up with the help of the Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism Board. She explained this committee would look at different areas, specifically the gateways to the city, and discuss ways to enhance them.
Other important milestones noted were the addition of the Sweetwater Health and Human Services building in downtown Rock Springs, the renovation on the Bunning depot and a new walking path that will run through Gunsight Estates located off Reagan Avenue.
Another project Shields said the city is continuing to move forward on is upgrading the area around Bunning Park. In the past two years, the city has been purchasing property around the park in hopes of getting rid of dangerous structures while upgrading the area.
With the economy in Wyoming, many plans have been put on hold, and Rock Springs is no different. Shields recently reported to the Rock Springs Planning and Zoning Commission that when the plan was implemented in 2012, it was “a very ambitious” plan. She said they would possibly need to re-visit the plan and do revisions due to the economic changes since the inception.
One thing that has been beneficial has been the contract between the city and the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is tasked with leading economic development efforts in the area. Shields said they had done an “excellent job” promoting the city and continue to build the program each year. This year they will try to expand by adding property listings on the site.
She said the city would continue to look for different grants and other possible financial avenues to continue the progress on the master plan despite tough times.
