What’s Next Midlands projects: finished, in-progress + (maybe) up next.

Now that you know how What’s Next Midlands – a crowdsourced social improvement program – works (and the weirdest ideas submitted), let’s talk about the program’s impact on our community. What is What’s Next Midlands doing?

Already done ✅

✅ Main St. Seating | 8 cafe tables + 16 chairs, put out for public use at Soda City market each Saturday on Main St., in addition to First Thursday and other events | ⏩ City of Columbia has been conducting surveys as part of the Gehl Public Space Public Life action plan which could result in the seating being available on a more permanent basis

✅ Soda City Recycles | 11 permanent, public recycling bins on Main Street corridor (between State House + City Hall)

Happening now ▶️

▶️ Southern Lights (originally conceived as Lasers at the River) | public laser light art installation between the Blossom St. + Gervais St. bridges over the Congaree River that will last for 10 years | 📆 Est. completion date: August 2017

▶️ River Access | long-term project, collaborating with the Congaree Riverkeeper, to establish additional access points to Congaree Creek

▶️ Pop-up Drive-in Movie Series | a giant, inflatable screen to show drive-in movies (with tune-in radio audio) at Historic Columbia Speedway in Cayce (fits 200 cars) one Saturday/month for four months: May 20: The Sandlot, June 17: Grease, July 22: The Shining + August 12: Star Wars Rogue One. | 💰 Cost: Around $17,000. Funding will be completed with help of Historic Columbia Speedway and Fun Flicks.

Rejected 🖐 (but some still have a chance to be selected in next quarter’s round)

🖐 Bicycle co-op | partnership program with Cola Town Bike Collective to repair + distribute bikes to nonprofits, churches, veteran programs, homeless, lower income kids; plus a bike drive initiative | 💰 Cost: $2,500 + cost of bike drive

🖐 Gervais St. Corridor Trolley | red, open-air trolleys to run down Main St., the Vista and Five Points on Saturdays in three months during the summer for tourists + locals | 💰 Cost: $6,000. This would be a pilot project to gauge public interest that could be funded + taken on if successful.

🖐 Pet-friendly business campaign | marketing campaign for pet-friendly businesses including branded stainless steel dog bowls provided to local biz’s; educational window clings + more | 💰 Cost: $3,000. This won’t be on a future ballot, but WNM applied for a grant so that it can •hopefully• still happen.

My vote in the last round was for the Main St. trolley – but after the announcement of Soda Cap Connector, I may free up my vote for a fresh idea. 💡

If you think you have the next best idea for our region, submit it here.

– Chloe