Opinion: Imagining Madera, 2050

The streets are not paved with gold. But, at least, they are paved. The Gateway Drive entrance to the city from northbound traffic on SR 99 is lined with cafes, boutiques, and low-rise professional buildings, all beautifully landscaped. The Gateway Drive entrance from southbound traffic on SR 99 has upscale antique shops, private art galleries, the Madera Lumber Museum, movie theaters, ice cream and soda fountains, and florists. A tree-lined median runs the entire length from north to south.

Highway 145 has been widened to four lanes through the city, and the downtown section also sports new sidewalks, providing smooth and easy access to clothing shops, stationery stores, banks, financial organizations, and the Madera County Arts Council. Trees abound.

To visiting business people, this looks like the kind of city where they would like to locate their new offices, stores, or companies. Sure, summers are hotter than ever, but downtown businesses have misting systems that cool the immediate area. All buildings are air-conditioned by equipment that runs on solar energy, and there’s plenty of sunshine to keep the machines operating.