In the previous column, I discussed how attitude affects your feelings toward the changes in your community. If we are able to keep an open mind and if we show a bit of empathy towards others as our community evolves, we would all likely be a bit happier and ultimately have a better place to call home. 

Continuing on the theme of change, we can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the change around us but at the same time not even realize it is taking place. It’s like the concept of boiling a frog…it is done so slowly, you don’t even know it is happening. Only years later, do you look back and see the transformation around you. 

Other times, change is happening and you wonder what it will look like one or five or 10 years from now. A community is always changing and unfolding to what the current residents need and want. And hopefully, the pieces are in place to keep a community expanding and progressing forward. It is that unknowing that is unsettling but if we trust in our fellow residents who are investing their time, energy and resources, it will be - if nothing else - interesting on the other side.

We are in the midst of a lot of change right now. In the previous column, I noted the evolution of McCook’s YMCA and the patience needed to see it through until the end. 

Changes are happening almost everywhere in McCook. Heritage Hills Golf Course, which changed the landscape of McCook in the early 1980s, is undergoing a major renovation project of its clubhouse. 

The City of McCook’s ballpark project is changing the north side of town, not only with new greenspace and ball diamonds, but housing and retail. The inclusive playground is in place in Kelley Park next to the new McCook Aquatic Center. And the south side has seen recent progress with new playground equipment and a disc golf course at Barnett Park.

To keep our community growing and thriving, investment needs to happen. To ensure our community is around for children and grandchildren, change has to happen.

And that is where change can make you nervous. It’s the unknown. It’s the what-does-it-look-like-next. It’s the will-this-be-better-for-everyone-when-it’s-done.

For example, B Street through McCook underwent a drastic change this past week as not one but two Wagner auto group businesses moved to the northwest side of McCook. The former locations are prime locations with a lot of square footage, both in buildings and parking lots. Right now, there are a lot of bare, open parking lots and empty, dark buildings and to be honest, it is kind of sad looking. 

But the auto dealership has made an investment in the community and I’m sure the  Wagners already have great plans for the auto lots - or will come up with something. It will be interesting to see what this next evolution of downtown McCook looks like. 

And if there is an immediate silver lining with the empty lots on B Street, we can see one of the new mini-murals in the alley between Norris and East First Street, which is currently in progress.

Thanks to the McCook Creative District’s “mini-mural project,” these murals are literally changing the look of downtown McCook. With two block-long murals completed in recent years, these smaller murals are popping up around downtown McCook. They bring color and creativity to the downtown facades and are changing what we think the side of a building can and should look like. Thanks to all the artists doing the murals, as well as Karrie Steely and Paula Sandberg and the McCook Creative District team for moving this forward. 

When the first mural on West First and C Street was being proposed earlier this decade, it was actually difficult to find a building owner to see the vision and allow the mural to be painted. But Mike Deveny realized the potential and now another half-dozen buildings are simply prettier and a whole lot more fun because people were willing to accept change. 

Change can be intimidating and scary, but it can also be exhilarating and energizing. Since change is going to happen whether we like it or not, we need to embrace the changes going on around us and look forward to what McCook will look like one year, five years, 20 years from now.