Can Evansville draw tourists?
EVANSVILLE — Evansville needs to finds its unique points of difference from similar communities to attract tourism and tell its story differently than other cities competing for the same visitors, a state tourism official says.
"What you'll really need to work on is how you'll tell that story, how you make that story so compelling that people are going to want to come here versus anywhere else," said Sarah Klavas, bureau director of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.
Klavas and a colleague presented the results of a Destination Assessment report to members of the Evansville Tourism Committee and other city leaders Tuesday night at Creekside Place. The report, she said, gives the city a leg up on how to put together a marketing plan, which is the next project for the committee.
City leaders worked with the Department of Tourism officials as one of the first cities to complete the report as part of a new state program aimed at meeting the tourism needs of smaller communities.
The report found:
-- Evansville's strengths are strong community spirit; tree, bird and historic register designations; artisans; easy access to Madison; small town values and charm; access to lakes, parks and trails; and agriculture.
-- Development priorities are more or revitalized events; dining and lodging experiences; continued downtown revitalization; development of itineraries and tours; and collaborative and cooperative marketing.
The city has about $14,000 annually from its room tax to spend on tourism, Mayor Sandy Decker said after the meeting. Over the next two years, the city plans to spend about $5,500 on two efforts: a two-year extension of a contract with Discover Mediaworks and a partnership with the city of Janesville to feature the Ice Age Trail during a portion of a half-hour Discover Wisconsin TV show.
How do you get visitors to return?
They must be treated well and feel the hospitality and small-town charm, Klavas said.
When Klavas came into Evansville, she heard the rumble from her tires on the brick Main Street and saw the beautiful façade of downtown, she said.
"It's very, very special," she said. "But, it's really important you as residents feel that way about your downtown and use it with the same passion that you want your visitors to use it. Because if you don't believe in your downtown, how can you expect other people to believe in it?"
The state tourism department offers customer service training for people on the front lines—from gas station clerks to hotel front desk staff—to be the city's own best ambassadors, she said.
The city next could take advantage of that training, Decker said.
Klavas also advised the group to consider tourism expert Roger Brooks' 10-10-10 rule. It recommends that in a three-block stretch, a city should have 10 places that serve food, 10 destination retail specialty shops and 10 places open after 6 p.m.
May 3, 2012 at 8:26 p.m.
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I implore all of you with complaints to come out from behind your computers and pseudonyms and address the council or any of the relevant committees and their members in person in order to help the community and be part of the solution. I can promise one thing, I have no pecuniary interests in my community, only a heart-felt one to help to make it better place for all of its citizens. I will listen. Please come and converse with me on these points in person. Once again, I truly do implore all of you so I have some real context and not just the venting that seems to occur on an anonymous website like this one. Thanks.
May 3, 2012 at 6:21 p.m.
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Brodheadnative: after seeing your posts in more than one place (Evansville Observer) about nepotism with the Evansville Police Department, I have to comment. Nepotism refers to the favoring of family members in the workplace...ALL officers hired either as full time or part time go through a stringent hiring process that was detailed in another Gazette article some time ago. This process includes:
1.) Assessment test: Candidates must respond to two of five timed scenarios—traffic, interpersonal conflict, crime scene, juvenile crime or a school-related crime—performed by volunteer community members.
2.) Panel interview by four members of the police department and four community members.
3.) Extensive background check: Good luck hiding your misdeeds. The screening process looks at a candidate's actions throughout his lifetime, including financial, employment and education records, interviews with friends, neighbors, roommates and landlords.
4.) Personality, psychological, written and drug tests. A physical agility test is being considered.
This is a time consuming and tedious process, and a candidate earns the right to work for the city and is not "given" the job. Any written and psychological tests are evaluated by outside sources. Clearly, everyone involved with the hiring process (this includes way more than just the Chief) was aware of the family relations here. If anything, "junior" was more closely watched and monitored because of the family ties involved.
May 3, 2012 at 1:36 p.m.
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Nose2it, your comment would be incorrect. If some one has a complaint about the police dept, it needs to go to the city administrator, that is a h.r. issue. He will then decide from there what should be done. The fact you had our comments removed suggest there is some thing to them. That tikiman was correct. If he was Evansville has bigger problems than any one thought.
I would love to see that mobile Mexican food truck come to Evansville.City leaders would just drive them off. They do not like real business.
May 3, 2012 at 11:58 a.m.
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Our children played Evansville in sports years ago. The fans were the most rude of any cities in the conference. The joke was that there was something in the water. We drive through the city everyday to get to jobs in Madison. Never stop. Nothing to stop for.
May 3, 2012 at 9:57 a.m.
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I moved to Evansville to shorten my commute to work - like a lot of other people who work in Madison, Janesville, or Beloit. It was a favorable location and a quality school District for my children was a plus.
That said, if I didn't live in the community I am not sure there is anything in Evansville that would motivate me to visit.
Lake Leota is not the draw that its supporters believe - it is big enough to be an effective water hazard at most golf courses, but has little potential as an actual tourist attraction.
Agree 100% that it is nearly impossible to get a quality meal at any of the restaurants in town and that the property taxes are higher than one would expect.
May 3, 2012 at 9:17 a.m.
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Evansville is to upity. The people who live there don't like strangers in town. I have never had a polite salesperson in their 3-4 shops. The residents make the town what it is, empty, unfriendly. To have tourists you need a draw which they don't have, and many don't want because that would bring in strangers, you know the people Evansville residents think they are better than.
May 3, 2012 at 8:29 a.m.
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Evansville doesn't have 10 place to eat in the whole town, let alone 3 blocks. The place is dying. We love rough roads here, tracks, cobblestones which will wear out, and the taxpayers will pay for that fluff. Thousands spent on dredging the lake, again, and still worthless for swimming or water sports. Overprices art stores that only the 1% can afford. They also run the whole shebang. There are more barber shops than churches and bars. It needs a total remodel, and being a known speed trap doesn't help. 1 GOOD restaurant would be a big step. Look at Ding-a -lings once and maybe someone could come up with an idea.. Until then, it still is purgatory to me.
May 3, 2012 at 7:40 a.m.
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@Tikiman1 and Movinforward. I suggested removal of your comments. Your issues with the police Department have nothing to do with this Blog. If you have issues with the Police Department, take it up with the city council.
May 3, 2012 at 7:28 a.m.
May 3, 2012 at 6:52 a.m.
May 3, 2012 at 6:44 a.m.
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evansville has no business because they make any potential business jump through hoops. The high taxes are also a issue.
May 3, 2012 at 5:58 a.m.
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Mason when you started on the council you were all in , for all the right reasons. Not any more you have your hands in to many projects, and there is no way you can tell any one you are not biased towards certain projects.
May 3, 2012 at 5:55 a.m.
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I have lived in Evansville for several years, but grew up in the area. Evansville has never really changed except that the number of residents has grown. The down town has always, always been a flop. There are more office's in the downtown area than stores. Office's are not going to bring in tourism. There are many, many , foreclosed homes. There are no jobs in Evansville. There is no place to shop that is not over priced. The city says shop in town, but it needs to be affordable and it is not. The Radio Shack is great but that is about it. People are not going to come to Evansville to shop at Radio Shack. Evansville wants to be like Stoughton, New Glarus, Lake Geneva, but they are no where like them. Evansville has very high taxes, our city officials just keep throwing money at it, wasting tax payer money. It has never worked. Certain family's in town think they own the town and things should be done their way. I have not been able to get a answer to this yet but why was the police chief allowed to hire his son on the police dept? Most towns have ordinances against that, its called ethics. Nepotism. Just another thing wrong with Evansville. Nice that daddy could give junior a job.
May 3, 2012 at 2:45 a.m.
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There really isn't anything in Evansville to draw tourists the highlight of the city is the architecture and Lake Leota..
May 2, 2012 at 10:31 p.m.
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Evansville is a delightful small town. Many strengths. Romano's. Pottery studio. Terrific library. And more.
. . .
My family travels to Evansville regularly, to visit another family member. Suggest correcting two major, awful first impressions:
1. Major renovation of the gosh-awful railroad tracks! Do not delay! Start tomorrow!
. . .
2. Limit SUV & pickup truck parking to one side of main street. Those selfish road hogs create a choke points on the beautiful main street. I abhor driving that gauntlet! It’s a deterent to motorists.
. . .
3. Adopt an ordinance that will prohibit some of the blighted yards & dwellings. Renovate, repair, remove. There are some real ghetto-looking places with trash in yard, terrace, and driveway.
May 2, 2012 at 10:25 p.m.
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Evansville needs a quality restaurant.
Nothing between Beloit and Madison except in Orfordville.
May 2, 2012 at 9:13 p.m.
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AKron thank you for your comments. As for the rest of you, I have no idea how the Koch brothers have anything to do with Evansville and this article for that matter. And Eviller, why don't you step up and help and try to be part of the solution rather than nay-say from the sidelines. This community is easily the most welcoming in this area. I know that I am biased but I very much enjoy and do everything I can to be a good steward for my adoptive hometown. I sincerely wish that all of our residents would want for the same and do what they could to help that cause. And for those that want to sit back and nay-say I say this, help out, I guarantee that you will find this much more fulfilling!
May 2, 2012 at 6:07 p.m.
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Um, Nope!
May 2, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.
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I think Evansville has quite a bit of potential. They've done a lot to the park, and the older sections are very nice.
I'm still amazed that, as of today, 396 people have viewed my July 4th Parade video from last year. I was expecting maybe a dozen.
http://youtu.be/I5hl9mAP71s
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