VISION 2000 CAN TAKE PRIDE IN ITS SUCCESS

Long before anybody was talking about the Y2K bug and the coming computer-induced apocalypse, a group of Cape Girardeau residents saw the year 2000 as an opportunity.

It was 1987, and some local elected officials, community leaders and concerned citizens gathered to create Vision 2000, the name of their organization and the name of the plan they conceived for the city. They believed they could shape the next decade and enter the next century living in an ideal community.

Did they make it? Well, yes and no.

It's clear they met 19 of their 25 goals, which had to do with fostering community spirit, improving education and boosting the local economy and job market. In some cases, the nationwide economic boom and drop in unemployment helped. Vision 2000 seemed to push goals through by sheer will.

For each major project, including the city's street program and the school district's planning that led to two successful bond issues, the group held meeting after meeting, showing voters exactly how the money would be spent. Melvin Gateley, a former city councilman and perhaps the most vocal force behind Vision 2000, was among those who listened to concerns and won doubters over with his determinedly positive outlook.

Among Vision 2000's many projects are new rose gardens, one of which will be dedicated behind City Hall on Sunday. The rose gardens and other flower beds are among the gorgeous reminders of the group's efforts.

Vision 2000 wanted a fully funded office of economic development and got it. They wanted a city-wide storm water management system and got it. They wanted new literacy programs and got them.

There were some failures too.

The group set an unrealistic goal of 90 percent voter registration and 75 percent voter participation. Typical voter turnout is around 20 percent, and a abysmal 4 percent of eligible voters turned out for a single-issue ballot in February. They wanted ideal city-wide parking for the disabled, but that didn't happen.

The effort isn't ending with the flip of a calendar to 2001. Vision 2020 will accept the torch -- symbolically and literally -- at a downtown parade today at 1 p.m.

Vision 2020 plans to write its own goals. That group may see Cape Girardeau taking a different turn.

And that's OK. If their collective vision matches that of their predecessors, city residents can be confident that the quality of life in Cape Girardeau will be even better in 20 years.