In hopes to help spur economic development, civic innovator Dan
Burden will speak with local leaders on April 5 at Hollister City
Hall, concluding a day spent touring the city and county.
Burden, a recognized leader of developing healthy communities
throughout the country, will be given a tour of the county and city
before speaking with public leader and the community, according to
a statement from the Community Vision for San Benito County.
In hopes to help spur economic development, civic innovator Dan Burden will speak with local leaders on April 5 at Hollister City Hall, concluding a day spent touring the city and county.
Burden, a recognized leader of developing healthy communities throughout the country, will be given a tour of the county and city before speaking with public leader and the community, according to a statement from the Community Vision for San Benito County.
As an authority on walkability, bicycling and pedestrian programs, Burden is recognized as a leader in promoting neighborhoods, villages and cities that are more active and interactive. He is a Washington State-based town designer and formerly was a National Geographic photographer.
He has visited more than 2,500 towns and cities through the world, according to the statement.
“Dan Burden is the nation’s most recognized authority on walkability, bicycle and pedestrian programs, street corridor and intersection design, traffic flow and calming, road designs and other elements that promote sustainability,” according to the statement.
Hollister Gavilan College Trustee Tony Ruiz, who helped bring Burden to the county, believes that Burden could bring the community together to share a future vision.
“One thing he can do is bring all the various components together,” Ruiz said. “He brings all things together.”
Ruiz added that Burden would be able to help build a better, and more sustainable, community.
“His greatest talent is getting people with different viewpoints to agree on a vision for their community by showing them the untapped beauty and potential they have in their greatest commonly-owned asset,” Ruiz said, reading from a statement.
His appearance in town will be the end of four years of planning, Ruiz said.
“The effort has been going on for almost four years now,” Ruiz said. “He will be a good thing for this community.”
The Community Vision of San Benito County is still preparing the details for Burden’s visit, but he is scheduled to speak at 5 p.m. at Hollister City Hall, Ruiz said. Members of the city council and the board of supervisors are expected to attend. The presentation is open to the public.
For more go to www.walkable.org.
