Feelings are running strong over this issue in our community.
After years of neglect there are those who want the Hanger restored to be the basis for a Museum associated with the B-29 All Veterans Memorial Complex.
Another alternative being discussed is to build a new modern structure.
( See Museum Restart Campaign )
There may be other options too.
To make a good decision about the best alternative, we need more facts about each option plus a comparison of the pros and cons of each approach. We also need to research what other communities have done on this same issue. There also needs to be a written plan prepared which should answer questions like What Do We Want To Do?, Where Are We Now?, How Do We Get There? Did We Succeed? starting with:
- Complete inventory of existing resources
- Mission statement
- Major Planning Initiatives defined to accomplish the Mission
- List of Objectives for each Planning Initiative
- Measurements established for completing each objective with cost and resource estimates
- List of Possible Problems for meeting each objective
- Strategies for solving or addressing each problem
- Operational priorities/schedules established to address solutions to problems
This plan should be published online for all citizens to review and to receive their comments.
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By the way, don't forget to vote in our straw poll about this issue (see top left column) and please leave your comments about this issue.
3 comments:
Is any person or group(s) in charge of this effort? How much has been accomplished so far?
Hi- I live in Salinas, CA, and am a big B29 fan. I saw this on a -29 discussion group.
Restoring an old hanger is a BIG job.
I do not live in Pratt, but I do hope you can do it. You might want to contact the Tillamok Air Museum in Tillamok, Oregon. They are restoring a WWII Blimp Hanger to hold their museum. They have come a long way, and might be a good resource.
Good luck with the project, whichever road you take!
Earl & Diana Ingram
I spotted this comment about the hanger on a B-29 Yahoo Group:
"I agree that an example of these Hangars should be saved on the Pratt Army Airfield. I would like to see the big Echelon Hangar at the south end be saved as it is in much better shape, Being familiar with the one under discussion which is in really bad shape. Looking back in time is always great, but 10 years ago would have been the time to save it. If it were restored I would think you would need a fire guard around the clock to watch for problems. To put rare B29 items and a museum in this type structure would require some serious thought. Great Bend has three of these Hangars remaining and I understand they are tearing one down after a storm took the covering material off the roofs of two of them. I really hope there is a way to save the Pratt Hangar. Phillip"
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