Millbrook Listens: An ear to the ground with an eye to the future

MILLBROOK — A year-long effort is underway to help Millbrook residents define their vision for the community’s future and identify priorities that would enhance life in the village for generations to come.

The Millbrook Listens project, led by Christopher Wilson and a 20-member volunteer committee, aims to collect as many ideas as possible. Volunteers in colorful T-shirts have been attending community events, eager to hear residents’ thoughts.

“We have had over 200 idea submissions since Community Day that cover everything from walkability and town park improvements to community dances and masquerades to road safety concerns on Franklin Avenue to the need for more afterschool teen programming,” Wilson said in response to interview questions on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Residents can share their ideas using the Project/Idea Submission Form on the Millbrook Library website (www.millbrooklibrary.org) under “Resources.” The form also lets participants vote for their top three priorities.

Praising the commitment and talent of his volunteer team, Wilson said the project aims “to enhance, not to change” the village experience.

“I believe that the simplicity of just listening to what people care about will be the wellspring toward success,” Wilson said. “We are here to celebrate the traditions and heritage that continue to inspire people every day to choose Millbrook.”

Wilson said the project’s reach extends beyond the village limits, encouraging all residents—both in and around Millbrook—to share their ideas.

Broad in scope, the initiative invites open-ended input on everything from future development and infrastructure to the conservation of the natural environment, recognizing that all aspects of community life are interconnected.

“My education is in Parks and Public Management. Understanding and fostering the relationship between human and natural worlds is critical. If we continue to talk about them separately, we will continue to undermine the effectiveness of calls to action, Wilson said.

“Our environment includes the forest, the streams, the wildlife, as well as the businesses, houses, roadways, and people. So many speak about nature as something apart and different; it does not have to be one or the other, it is the harmony between accessibility and stewardship that needs to be achieved,” Wilson explained.

Drawing on his background in grants administration, Wilson said the project’s outcomes will help shape future goals for both the village and the town.

“We are looking to come out of this planning process with three priority projects that the community has voiced and voted on in order to show that we are unified in our direction,” Wilson said, a step toward seeking new funding sources and collaboration with potential funders.

Reflecting on his work as an outdoor educator, writer, and strategic planner, Wilson expressed a deep appreciation for the people, landscapes, and communities that have influenced his life.

“I have dedicated my life to articulating and securing funding for opportunities that inspire people and their communities,” Wilson noted. He serves as one of six select Fellows of the Funding Futures Program in conjunction with the Partners for Climate Action organization.

Two Millbrook Listens project information sessions are planned for November at the Millbrook Library. The first will be held on Monday, Nov. 17, from 1-2 p.m. and the second on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.