The Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council’s “Panel Of Visionaries” led over 300 community leaders in Saturday’s “The Destiny of the West Valley” forum, challenging the community to demand walkable streets, complete and effective mass transit, park-once concepts, circulators and people movers, sustainable infrastructure, green streets, improved property values, reduced utility bills and, quite simply, greatness!

Joyce Pearson, Chair of the Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council, took the lead saying “It’s up to us, we must come together with a vision for the future. We must think about what makes a great neighborhood, what makes a great street, what makes a great community and we must partner to make it a reality. After all, this is our home.”

Denny Zane of Urban Dimensions spoke of economic revitalization and walkability and his success with the Third Street Promenade. He also spoke of funding proposals and strategies that would finance a comprehensive mass transit system with solid choices.

Bart Reed, Executive Director of the Transit Coalition, offered transit innovations and options that include people movers, horizontal elevators and circulators to make getting our of the car a viable choice.

Larry Smith, Executive Director of North East Trees, spoke of establishing a new standard for infrastructure, Green Way LA, ensuring that all improvements utilize nature to integrate water reclamation and sustainable elements to our neighborhood.

Councilmembers Zine and Greuel opened the session, Supervisor Yaraslavsky wrapped, and the Forum concluded with a room full of fired up community leaders, all wanting to know "What's next? What's next?"

The NC answered the cry for more by inviting the community to join the Neighborhood Council, City Planning, City Leadership, the Warner Center Association and the Pat Smith Urban Design Team in the Warner Center Specific Plan Workshops and in setting the Vision for the neighborhood.

Photo courtesy of Enci