POV Florence, Freeflowing
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2/26/2010
A few years ago, while i was still living in Florence, the local newspaper did an article abt why the young educated people were leaving Florence. In my early 20's as i was attending the local college, most of us would go to other cities for our shopping and entertainment...Huntsville, Nashville, etc. Later, as the years went by, the City Council made the decision to start marketing Florence as a retirement community. Nothing against seniors, but when the campaigning became heavy and people started protesting everything catering to young people (ex clubs, bars) it did make the young people feel unwelcome. If a young adult did not belong to a church, there were no meeting places to hang out and mingle with other young adults.
Also, jobs in Florence are very scarce. Jobs where the employee can get a 401k, health insurance, and other needed benefits. Whenever a new business would offer to build in the industrial park, they would withdraw their bids within a few months. Many of the businesses in the industrial park are owned by one family in particular, some of the others by another family. Most people i know who have a career with a company that offers decent pay and good benefits also commute to Huntsville or Decatur (or even farther) for work.
One of my main concerns with Florence is the way that the city is laid out. If one needs to go to the hospital for any reason, they have to weave their way thru an ill-planned downtown and pray they don't get stuck at the lights. The city grew out from downtown, and as it grew, downtown was pretty much left in neglect. The current main part of town, as I consider it, by Cox Creek Parkway, has no hospital, but it did for awhile. And it needs one again.
The community does have an excellent university, which has won 3 football championships. It's the birthplace of WC Handy, and every summer the Handy Music Festival brings the best music around. There are many excellent churches in the area, and the school systems in the area have a commitment to excellence for all of their students. The YMCA is one of the best I've ever seen, there's a community pool down by the stadium, and several gyms. The thing i miss most abt the Florence area is Deibert Park. The park boasts walking trails thru areas that represent different types of areas in Alabama, playgrounds, ponds, and the Children's Museum.
Rebecca | Madison, AL