Parks Smith: Believe in New Albany

By Parks Smith

I am running for alderman of Ward 1 because, like so many of you, I believe in New Albany. We need to believe in what New Albany already is. We need to believe even more in what New Albany can be.

While campaigning, I’ve seen New Albany’s potential first-hand. We have tremendous resources. We’re located on the major thoroughfare of I-22, linking us directly and indirectly to many of the major cities of the Southeast. We are one of only nine states that can boast of being the birthplace of a Nobel Prize-winning author. The Tanglefoot Trailhead attracts bike enthusiasts from across the nation. Our lovely and prosperous downtown is the envy of other small towns, and we have the premiere small-town museum in the state. 

Our city government must play a more active role in promoting these gifts and assets.  For example: we can do more to promote ourselves as the birthplace of William Faulkner. Thousands of people pass by the four exits to our town from I-22 every day without knowing that one of the world’s great writers was born minutes away. Signage on I-22 could direct those people toward Faulkner’s birthplace and museum. 

While on that side trip, visitors could be directed to our downtown and the local businesses and restaurants there. Guests would see the Tanglefoot Trailhead and the beauty and charm of our town. Travelers too busy to stop would at least see the signage and come to see New Albany as a literary destination. 

If New Albany is to grow and prosper, preserving what makes us unique is important. Unlike many cities with declining downtown areas, Bankhead and Main Street remain vibrant. Our city government needs to be proactive in preserving the vibrancy of downtown. We can be better partners for organizations already doing great work, like the New Albany Main Street Association.

City government must do more to draw people into downtown by using assets like the Tanglefoot Trail. The beautifully designed trailhead is an example of how the rest of New Albany could look if city government would play a more active role in the beautification of our town. To realize this vision, all we need to do is shift from thinking of the trail as a place where people ride bikes to seeing it as a portal to our local shops and restaurants. 

Within Ward 1, we need to make progress toward increasing the connectivity of our town for residents and visitors.  For example, the Historic Northside Neighborhood is really a downtown neighborhood but doesn’t feel like one because of the lack of safe pedestrian access. An extension of the trail would provide an attractive walkway/bikeway to the Union County Heritage Museum for guests … and provide safer, easier access to downtown for Northside neighborhood residents. 

Another example of the lack of connectivity in our ward is the area surrounding Moss Hill Drive. Moss Hill Drive is a major thoroughfare in town which many people use to go to work and school. As a school bus driver, I know how narrow and dangerous the road can be for drivers and especially for pedestrians. Many people still use Moss Hill Drive, despite the dangers of walking or biking there. City government needs to improve the safety of Moss Hill Drive and add a sidewalk so that residents of Moss Hill can safely walk or bike from their homes. 

In small town elections, a single vote can make a world of difference. When you cast your vote for me on June 8th, I will work hard to promote what New Albany has to offer, to preserve what makes us great, and to make progress on the improvements our community needs in order to thrive. For more information about my campaign and about who I am, please visit my Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/parks.smith.90 and my website: https://parkssmith.com/ .