Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeBy the Herald editorial staff
We didn't need a government agency to tells us that the population here has grown by leaps and bounds in the past several years.
All you have to do is look around. New houses, new businesses, new schools, new demands on services. Despite the bleak economy in most parts, things here are still booming.
Change is guaranteed.
The challenge is to ensure we change in ways that leave the next generation of Mid-Colum-bians not only with a bigger community but also a better one.
Sure, we've got some stalled developments and projects that are dragging along more slowly than they should, but that hasn't stopped people from moving to the Tri-Cities and having babies.
According to state estimates, Franklin County has been the fastest-growing county in Washington since the 2000 census.
In 2000, the county had 49,347 residents and the state Office of Financial Management now estimates the population at 72,700. That's a 47.3 percent increase in nine years.
You'd think a huge influx of people moved into the county, but transplants account for only some of the new arrivals. State officials say births make up much of the increase.
Lots of babies is a sign of a healthy and happy population, and Franklin County has proved to be a fruitful place to live.
Much of the growth has been in urban areas, with Pasco and Kennewick ranking in the Top 10 for growth in the state since the last census. The only city in the Mid-Columbia to show a decrease in population was Washtucna.
So what do all these new faces mean for us? Beyond the challenge for schools as the new babies reach kindergarten and beyond, we've got another problem: How do we keep these folks here for the long-term?
We have a lot of work ahead to keep adults employed, and the community must continue to diversify the economy for the day when there is life after Hanford.
But beyond providing jobs, do we have what it takes to sustain growth while keeping residents and would-be residents satisfied with the Mid-Columbia's quality of life?
We need to build a place that will hold the interest of the next generation. We need the bells and whistles that come with the size of community we are quickly becoming.
We need more things that keep people here and bring new residents and the tourist trade with its almighty dollar to town.
We're talking about a performing arts center, a water park, trails and open spaces. A few more perks of city life, without losing the character and charm of the amenities Mother Nature gave us.
In short, this community needs a vision for the future. We've already got more than enough people in place to justify the services Mid-Columbians want.
We need to shape this community to attract newcomers and retain those who have made it home in the past few years. And to give the old-timers something new to see and talk about.
Be involved in shaping our future. The issue is too important to leave only to the politicians and other community leaders.
Editorials are the consensus of the Tri-City Herald editorial board.
Editorial board members are Rufus Friday, publisher; Chris Sivula, editorial page editor; Ken Robertson, executive editor; Matt Taylor, contributing editor; Lori Lancaster, editorial writer; Shelly Norman, editorial writer and Jack Briggs, retired publisher
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