A City is constantly changing. The purpose of a Comprehensive Plan is to give direction to change. Deciding what the Altoona of tomorrow should be like is the entire purpose of a Plan. The citizens, businessmen and officials who were involved in forming the Plan developed goals that built on the positive attributes of the City, and gave direction for eliminating the negative aspects. A Comprehensive Plan assumes action will be taken to meet those goals. Community Development is the action that is being taken.

Throughout this Section on Community Development you will see that the Planning and Community Development Department of the City must collaborate and cooperate with a multitude of other public organizations and private investors. All of the parties bring skills and resources to the table that help achieve the goals of the Comprehensive Plan.

Assisting Private Development

Economic Development

Shade Tree Commission

Summary

It should be obvious that the Community Development Activities of Altoona's Planning and Community Development Department and the Altoona Redevelopment Authority cannot be segregated from the activities of many other groups intent on improving Altoona. Cooperation is the necessary ingredient of all Community Development Activities.