'What makes you proud?: Civic society launches Wakefield in 50 Objects project
Wakefield residents have been asked what makes them proud of the city as part of a project to promote civic pride.
The Wakefield in 50 Objects scheme aims to capture people’s ideas about what makes Wakefield a great place in which to live, work or visit.
The top nominations will be revealed by Wakefield Civic Society at a special event later this year.
Society president Kevin Trickett said: “We want to celebrate the best that our city has to offer.
“As a charity, one of the society’s aims is to promote public interest in the beauty, character and history of Wakefield, so we want to gather lots of ideas from the public about what they like most about the city.”
The society is asking people to submit up to five things that they like about Wakefield.Once the nominations are collected, a panel made up of society committee members and
others will create a list for the public to vote on.
Mr Trickett added: “It’s all too easy to knock things and to talk Wakefield down.
“Some of the comments you can read on social media are very negative – and yet when we show people around the city, be they local residents or coach parties visiting Wakefield, they often remark about how impressed they are with what the city has to offer.
“We’re not saying everything is perfect.
“We know that, like many towns and cities, Wakefield has its problems, but let’s spend this summer focusing on the positives.”
Nominations can be submitted up until June 30 and can be made through the society’s website or posted to Wakefield Civic Society, PO Box 380, Wakefield.
The top 50 nominations will be revealed at Wakefield Exchange on September 16 as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days.
Mr Trickett said: :“People can nominate anything from the past or the present that helps to tell a good story about Wakefield.
“They can put forward buildings, people, places, objects, sculpture, paintings, monuments, statues, cultural events, stories – anything so long as it’s something positive.
“Imagine you were trying to encourage friends to visit Wakefield or businesses to set up here – what features would you tell them about to encourage them to come to Wakefield?”
To get people thinking, the society has already invited a group of people to submit their nominations which are listed on the society’s website.
The public vote will be announced in July and the final list will made available as a community resource for local businesses, schools and colleges.