Sharon residents turned out en masse Tuesday night to provide their input on revitalizing the city.

About 70 people showed up to offer suggestions for a new and improved downtown business district. Suggestions ranged from improving aesthetics to creating entertainment to cooperation among business owners.

Rod W. Garrison, of E.G.&G. Inc. of Akron, Ohio -- the architecture and engineering firm working on the project -- highlighted some of downtown Sharon's strong points.

They include: centrally located city government; a library; post office; visitor's bureau; a number of churches and financial institutions; historical buildings and restaurants; and the Shenango River.

Garrison suggested areas for improvement, including entry ways to the city; a number of "underutilized" buildings; worn out parking lots and sidewalks; and the parking garage, which "has a big question mark on it in my mind," he said.

Resident Peg Outrakis said people go to downtown Sharon to run an errand and then leave. She said downtown has to attract families to keep people in the city.

Anne Ryser of Burghill, Ohio, who worked in Sharon for over 30 years, would like to see the arts play a bigger role in city. She suggested moving the Valley Arts Guild, now located on Vine Avenue, to a more prominent location. Mrs. Ryser also suggested building some kind of a children's museum.

"Nobody stays in Sharon. Young families are moving out the first chance they get," said Daryl Torrence, a city firefighter. He suggested building a grocery store so people who live in the city don't have to leave for necessities.

Torrence also said there are structurally unsound, abandoned buildings that need to be razed.

Resident Carol Swartz suggested some owners of vacant buildings might donate them to young entrepreneurs to start small, specialty businesses.

Former city councilman Joseph Baldwin suggested setting up a bus route that loops around downtown. He also suggested building a footbridge over the river at Porter way to provide easy access to parking across the river.

Councilman Lou Rotunno said he wants to see Penn State University's Shenango campus become a four-year university, build dorms and make Sharon more of a college town.

Rotunno also suggested using the parking garage for office space and focusing on neighborhoods.

Resident Robert Lucas said the city needs a better plan to route the large number of trucks that drive through the city.

"We are not pedestrian friendly ... We're not traffic friendly. We're just not friendly. We're friendly as people," said businessman James E. Winner Jr., who owns of The Winner and a host of other downtown properties.

Lucas also said he would like to see an area where kids can skateboard and in-line skate.

Residents and business owners didn't forget about some of Sharon's staple businesses. Many agreed Reyers Shoe Store, The Winner, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum and Quaker Steak and Lube are big draws. Councilman George Gulla also brought up the Buhl Club as an asset.

The question is how to capitalize on them.

Mrs. Ryser suggested distributing a map that highlights downtown businesses.

"What do we want to be as a community of citizens?," Winner asked. "I don't think we should turn the clock back."

Mayor David O. Ryan, who would like to see a hotel in the city, agreed with Winner. He said the days of downtown being crowded with people were before television sets and malls. Ryan encouraged everyone to look to the future.

Improving sidewalks and streets is something many people said they would like to see.

The Columbia Theater was also a topic of discussion. There was a general consensus that the building needs to be utilized to bring entertainment to the area.

Tony Butala, co-founder of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame with Winner and a member of The Letterman, said he would like to see the Columbia Theater up and working within a year or so.

Council President Fred Hoffman said revitalization plan -- funded by a $50,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development -- is a "golden opportunity" for the city. He said with a new mayor and such a good turnout at the meeting his hopes for the city are "regenerated."

"The turnout is very, very encouraging," said Joseph Mazzola, E.G.&G. planning consultant.

Mazzola said a steering committee for the plan made up of residents and business owners is already formed. Within the next six months, Mazzola said his group will develop renderings of scenarios for downtown. There will be another public meeting and a more solid plan will be developed, he said.

After the city has a plan, Mazzola said the key is to secure funding from private developers and public sources to get the project off the ground.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharon-herald.com