New Beginnings
If you could buy Marianna, what would you change to make it the most visited town in Washington County? I would first make Marianna Borough a solar/green village. My plan would make it the only area in Washington county that strives for a healthy environment. The move would create solar jobs, landscape and developers jobs, maintenance workers, carpenter jobs, brick layers jobs, etc. I'd make the bathhouse building a bee museum. Outside of it would be walkways with every native flower imaginable. A giant boxwood maze would make for a challenge to get out. Also, our beautiful Ten Mile Creek would be made cleaner by dam removal and erosion control with plantings, rock weirs, etc. Canoe races would start in the township near the current slate dump (which would be reclaimed) and continue through the borough (with the dam gone this is possible) and end at the township bridge.
There would be Moped rentals in both municipalities for those visiting here to get to a newly restored main street where small shops thrive and a community center is a post. The community center would be a place where adult education and social and cultural activities would be held, and many other events and classes and a stage for spotlighting the talented people in the area who can sing, dance, write, play an instrument, recite poetry, paint, sculpt, etc.
On weekends there would be horse and buggy rides along the main street because the creek would be lined with pink cherry blossom trees that people come from all over to view. Yoga would be the norm at the new green mine yard, once a toxic area, where a small amphitheater would be for concerts and educational events. This means hiring event planners, security, gardeners, artists, and many more positions that create jobs.
Also, there'd be rental houses in some company houses that take us back in time, a mine history museum in one of the old mine yard buildings restored. Butterfly and children's garden, a community garden, and a natural healing center in various places. A wildlife rehabilitation center would be near the restored coke ovens, where children and adults can learn to connect with nature through photography, writing, art, and foraging.
I'd bring back the train and make it a tourist train (as well as one for whatever commerce was needed), connect one side of the creek to the other, and create a trail from main street to the West Beth hiking trail. Fishing, bird-watching, picnicking, volleyball, and more would be the norm. You would not have to join a club to enjoy the natural world.
I would give every resident money to achieve their ultimate dreams, but they'd have to contribute to the town as volunteers, and they would get extra benefits to be workers either in the community or elsewhere (lazy would not live here).
The train would be re-established to be a route for solar industry equipment, and on weekends the train would become a tourist train bringing people in from other areas to see this unique town and to dine.
In the township, I would put a café/coffee shop/book store on the main street, where violinists, guitarists, and storytellers would perform. A farmer's market on the main street all summer long. Planters, old street lights, and benches would line the road. The old hardware store would be an old-time store with homemade food, canned jellies, handmade soaps and a train exhibit area. Of course, there would also be a historical/culture society and art museum. A Native American Museum would sit near the creek, where walking paths would weave all over the mine yard and along it would be birdhouses and a few free library book houses.
One thing would be the focus, however, and it would not ensure that the area does not become a significant tourist attraction and is instead built to serve those who live here. Another toxic industry would never be allowed here again. And anyone supporting one would be kicked out. On top of the West Beth Trail would be a giant man holding a bird's nest, by recycle art activist Thomas Dambo.
Far-fetched? Nothing is impossible if you have enough people to participate in the making of it. We need a dreamers club, for ambitious people yearning to give this place a new, authentic, and unique image.
