WSP10086

• File Number: 8040.100
• Description: Section D General Studies - Power
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 3/1/1976
• Author: HUD
• Title: Rapid Growth from Energy Projects - Ideas for State and Local Action
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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IV. OTHER IMPACTS ON THE
COMMUNITY

The boom resulting from the construction of an
energy project can cause impact~ far beyond the visi-
ble ones of land use and the countable ones of finances.
In this chapter, we discuss the impacts on:

Quality 01 Life
Service to People
Streets and Utilities

The<<.e ~mpacts. are not m\J.tuaH~ exc\us\\Je horn each
other, or from those discussed in the previous chapter.
I n fact, they are all so interrelated that they cannot
be considered by themselves. For example, ideas to
improve services to people will improve the quality of
life, and land use planning will make easier the provision
of streets and utilities. The problems and ideas for
action presented here are only the highlights, and not
by any means inclusilJe. The extent of impacts and
the proper response depend entirely on the people of
the community, and thus vary from one area to
another.

A, QUALITY QF LIFE

Rapid growth brings rapid change in the many
factors that are summarized by the average citizen
under the heading of "quality of life:' Whether change
is for the better or worse depends on one's subjective
judgment. Many accounts of impacted communities
have stressed "decline" and "loss" and the negative
effects are often in evidence:

A speeded-up pace of life
Congestion and overcrowding
Inflation in prices
Fear of change in life style for present residents
Lack of activities and belonging for newcomer
families
Alcoholism and mental, health problems

But at the same time, more people can provide the
basis for more opportunity. The balance is one that
each community must strike in its own way.
The impacts are especially severe on two groups;

Elderly:
Most of the elderly have been in the community
for a long time, and counted on a quiet retirement
in a community they knew. With the rapid growth,
the community is no longer Quiet and may not be
recognizable. Many elderly are on fixed incomes, so
the inflation in rents and prices hits them especially
hard. If they are renting, it may no longer be
possible for them to remain in their community.

Wives:
Boom towns are often not good places for wives.
The wives of construction workers are mostly living
in "aluminum ghettos" on the fringe of urban
settlement. There are few jobs for women in con.
struction work, and the support jobs don't increase
as fast as the population. Activities - educational,
social and cultural - are limited, and there may be
"culture shock" for those who moved from large
urban centers. Schools may be crowded and recrea-
tion limited for their children.

To meet some of these problems, several ideas have
been advanced. Community responses in the area of
Quality of life have been quite limited, with few exam.
pies available for presentation.

Community Relations Commission: Denver Research
Institute
In its study of Sweetwater County, Wyoming, the
Denver Research Institute suggested that the county
might consider funding a community relations com.
mission. Citizen advisory committees would examine
new approaches to improving life in the county.
Among the potential ideas are:

Telephone referral service for information on
available social and governmental services;
Company sponsored orientation sessions, and edu-
cational, cultural and social activities;
Coordinated membership drive of all volunteer
organizations in the county.

Community relations commissions, welcome wagons,
hospitality hostess programs are always good buffering
mechanisms, easing the entry of new households into
a community. This may be particularly important in
the rapid growth community.

Contact: Jack Gilmore, Senior Research Economist,
Denver Research Institute, University of
Denver, Denver, Colorado 80210.
[phone]

Recreation/Activity Center: Gillette, Wyoming
One of the major needs for wives is a place where
they can get out of the mobile home and engage in
activities together. Gillette has built such a center,
opening it in early 1975. The $1 million center in-
cludes a recreation area, exercise rOom, arts and crafts
room, classrooms, day-care center and an outdoor
swimming pool which can be enclosed in the winter.
This facility has been built CJnd is operated by
Campbell County to serve all the residents of the area.
A Federal grant from the Bureau of Outdoor Recrea-
tion helped. A small fee is charged for swimming and

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