This week, the City hosted a community workshop as part of its ongoing update to the Comprehensive Plan. Although I wasn’t able to attend in person, I heard from residents who described robust participation, meaningful conversations, and a genuine willingness to engage with the big questions facing Worthington.

That feedback reflects exactly what a healthy planning process should be: broad, inclusive, future-focused, and grounded in thoughtful civic dialogue. A Comprehensive Plan isn’t about any one parcel or any one idea. It’s about the long-term needs and aspirations of the entire community.

Community Engagement Works When It’s Open and Honest

One of Worthington’s greatest strengths is the level of care and passion our residents bring to public conversations. People show up ready to listen, learn, and share. That diversity of thought is what makes the planning process meaningful, because no single voice, vision, or perspective represents an entire city.

A successful community process requires something simple but essential: good-faith participation. That means bringing ideas forward transparently and respecting that official materials come from the City, the community planning committee, and the consultant team, not from individual groups or advocates. Clear information and shared understanding are critical to building trust.

Holding Space for Many Ideas, Not a Predetermined Outcome

The current update of the Comprehensive Plan is intentionally structured to gather ideas iteratively over time, checking in with the community at each phase. The goal is not to validate any one preferred outcome; it is to understand the community’s values, challenges, and priorities so the plan truly reflects Worthington as a whole.

It’s natural in any community for small groups to have strong visions or detailed proposals. Those ideas deserve a place in the discussion as part of the broader engagement process, alongside the many other perspectives present across Worthington. But they must be offered as contributions, not presented as the definitive voice of the community.

The heart of this process is genuine listening. That means hearing from long-time residents, new residents, businesses, families, older adults, young people, and everyone with a stake in Worthington’s future.

Next Opportunities to Get Involved

There are more opportunities to have your voice heard:

📅 November 20 Webinar

Join the virtual session to learn more about the planning process and share your feedback.

📝 Community Survey (Open Now!)

Your input directly shapes the recommendations for the next phase.

Take the survey here: https://worthingtontogether.org/get-involved/#Round2