Expanding the Dialog

If you’re reading this blog post, you’re most likely among the hundreds of people who frequent and appreciate the East Harrison Street End (aka ‘Hidden Beach’). Most of the time we’re talking amongst ourselves about how best to keep Hidden Beach open and accessible to the public. 

But recently, a fresh group of volunteers offered to meet with the adjacent property owners to listen to their sides of the story. Lisa Fitzhugh, Annette Hayes, and Susie Ragen (a mediator, a former federal attorney, and a neighbor) sat down with the north and south property owners on separate occasions). The hope was simple: dialogue could create more understanding. Understanding could expand the perspectives of all sides and reveal a different way forward we may not have seen before. The volunteers listened, asked questions and took notes. Then they wrote up a summary of each meeting, allowing both sets of property owners to review and suggest edits to their particular meeting summary.

It was very informative to sit down in person and hear directly from these property owners.  We’re thankful to have had the opportunity to hear from our neighbors.  Our next step in this listening tour is to speak with representatives from the broader public who visit Hidden Beach and try to tell their story as well.

Both summary letters were sent out to the Friends of Hidden Beach mailing list in October.  If you didn’t see them come across your transom, and would like to learn about these conversations, drop a line.  And if you’re not yet on the FOHB mailing list, be sure to sign up here so you can stay up-to-date with such goings-on.   

Let’s keep listening and looking for common ground.