(17 TIE) Vision 2020 makes progress with planned recreation center, Internet fiber, new bike trails, cleaner waterways and much more

It was a good year for Vision 2020.

“I don’t think I could be any happier with the progress made this year,” Laura Helle, director of creative vision with Vision 2020, said last week.

Committees made progress securing grant opportunities, planning for larger projects and executing smaller projects.

Vision 2020 made progress on a recreation center. Vision 2020 will likely partner with the YMCA, Austin Public Schools, Riverland Community College and the city of Austin among other organizations to build the rec center.

There was also the Community Pride and Spirit Committee’s involvement with the Community Home Improvement Project. The project, under the Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the Freeborn-Mower Habitat for Humanity, improved seven homes in northeast Austin this summer.

Vision 2020’s Bike/Walk Trails Committee has boosted interest in completing the Shooting Star Trail from Rose Creek to Austin. County officials plan to secure the land for the trail ahead of the 2014 bonding season to show state officials Mower County is ready to finish the project.

The Community Wide Technology Committee worked on a study on bringing high-speed Internet to Austin, but it won’t be easy, and officials previously said the plan could be expensive. In 2014, officials expect there will be more news on creating a broadband fiber network in Austin.

The waterways committee has worked to clean up the waterways, with the desire to make them usable and attractive for recreation. The group is looking to add access points, signage and more to the area waterways to promote water recreation.