Forum Editorial: Help shape Maryville’s future

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Decisions are made by those who show up. But in 2025, that doesn’t mean what it used to.

For better or worse — frequently both — more and more people exist more and more online. While we can certainly wish for — and even occasionally work toward — a future where that’s not the case, it is, for now, a fact of modern life.

So we commend the city of Maryville and new City Manager Ryan Heiland in how the city has approached gathering feedback on two extremely important projects that will shape the future of our community.

Although the public information meeting on Tuesday night held to gather in-person feedback on designs for a major overhaul of First Street was sparsely attended, we’re confident more people will offer their feedback through the project’s website, available at app.publiccoordinate.com/#/projects/1stStreetMaryville.

Even more importantly, the city set up an innovative and forward-thinking site that encourages residents to give specific thoughts on the city’s next comprehensive plan, which will serve as a roadmap for our community over the next 20 years. The interactive map, available at Maryville2045.com, that allows users to drop pins and signal support for existing comments is particularly tailored to how we exist in 2025.

We’re pleased that our city leaders are committed to finding new ways for us all to voice our opinions and exchange ideas about our collective future together.

And we urge all residents of Maryville to check out the links and get involved to ensure you have a hand in shaping the community you want to be part of growing into.