My family (husband, child, mother and father) moved to Redding just over a year ago. We had been living in different parts of the country and it was time to have at least a portion of the family reunited. We chose Redding due based on a combined list of criteria, but largely due to its size and mild winters.
I’m one of the people who is comfortable moving, probably because I moved a lot as a kid including stints overseas. I see each new town or city as an opportunity for discovery and exploration. So we settled into Redding and off I went immersing myself to the extent I could.
What I found is different than other places I’ve lived, and those include some towns much smaller and more rural than Redding. Many places would give anything to have what Redding has: an accessible backyard that includes incredible national parks and recreation areas as well as some of the world’s best fishing; an incredible amount of trail miles; a rich foundation willing to invest in the city; a wonderful library; some amazing restaurants; sports programs that build world-class athletes. The list goes on and on. I’ve discovered talent here that exceeds my wildest imagination: this talent runs the gamut from artistic to intellectual.
What is different here is that all these assets are here, but they are simply floating alone, largely not connected to each other. Instead of finding one place or thing and being led to the next, it’s a scavenger hunt. I’ve just recently discovered a few restaurants that I’ve driven by several times without even realizing that they were restaurants let alone super yummy! It’s still easier for me to drive to Medford to catch a flight (although the added flights have helped). I get on a trail that ends and there is no clear signage on where I pick it up again.
Wouldn’t it be great if I could go to Turtle Bay then ride my bike along the river to the library or City Hall, then up to downtown (because by now I need a beer) and then back to Turtle Bay? Even better if I could do that with my 10-year old who is still nervous on her big bike and we could stop along the way and play at the musical fountain near the river then watch the kayakers and canoers maneuver through the white water park. We might even come back later for a theatrical or musical event at the amphitheater or to star gaze at the planetarium. Those things are not here yet but they could be. It takes investment and it takes public/private partnerships to connect these assets in a purposeful way that brings people out. More importantly, it takes belief in the possibilities rather than the constraints.
I hear a lot about crime and homelessness. More concerning to me is that low rate of literacy and the number of children living in poverty or households with more than three poverty indicators. We spend a lot of money on band aid fixes to the symptoms (crime, for example) without ever really addressing the root cause. With focus, the City (or City and County) could set improvement targets for key areas (example: literacy and high school graduation rates) and tie these to the new investments in community infrastructure. For example, there could be a bookmobile or library shack at each of four spots along the new trail mentioned above. At Turtle Bay, the books could have an exploration theme. At the river, a recreation theme. At the library and city hall a civics theme, and downtown a cultural theme. All tied together by the living history of Redding and Shasta (Native American heritage to bicycle heritage to dam and large infrastructure heritage, etc.).
There is tension. I think some long-timers are afraid that if we solve the problems and become a “cool” city, we’ll lose our character and suddenly grow bigger than we’d like to. I’m not sure that would be the case, because it is hot here and a lot of people just can’t take the heat.
Don’t get me wrong, I know that things are happening, from new bike lanes to the Catalyst – Redding Young Professionals Group to Shasta EDC to the Shasta Angels and great events like TEDxRedding and Startup Weekend. I know that the number of micro-breweries is going from two to five or six. There is great hope that the new Sheraton Hotel will bring an influx of tourists and dollars. I just want to keep the momentum and figure out ways of pulling Redding together, so finding something in Redding is not an exercise in Brownian Motion. I do want to see Redding develop a personality that is unique, positive, and part of the new economies of the 21st century while also keeping the charm of downtown parades and pro rodeo.
Many of my out of town friends think of Redding as the I-5 pit stop (“oh yeah, Redding. That’s where I fill up on gas and coffee before/after going over Mt. Shasta.”) Now that we’re here, I hope I can pull them in to discover a bit of Redding.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the sign on I-5 said “Welcome to Redding, Small City with a Huge Backyard” or “Welcome to Redding, Come Play With Us” – something positive that creates a sense of discovery.
And wouldn’t it be even more wonderful if we could all make more active use of the city’s assets, because they were connected with visible gems all along the way.
Suzie Haberland, Redding
