Residents in the Greenville area have plenty of opinions on how to improve their hometown.

Mackin Engineering, the consultant coordinating the state-mandated feasibility study to examine the possibility of the borough sharing municipal services with surrounding communities, developed a survey to gather community opinions. The company recently posted responses from the survey on the project's Web site.

"Normally, we expect about 4 to 7 percent return on the surveys," said Amy Senople, project coordinator for Mackin. "So far, we've received nearly 10 percent return, and more and more keep coming in." In all, more than 4,200 surveys were distributed. To date, nearly 500 surveys have been returned, according to the project's Web site.

The project, known as the Greenville-Hempfield Township Joint Comprehensive plan, is part of Greenville's Act 47 economic recovery plan.

Greenville has been designated by the state as a "financially distressed" community.

A July meeting, attended by more than 200 people, generated ideas on the area's strengths and weaknesses as residents shared concerns and asked questions.

"Many of the responses we anticipated," Ms. Senople said. "People were concerned about reusing and redeveloping industrial sites, and creating jobs in the community."

The surveys, in addition to asking for some basic demographic information, asked for residents' opinions on roads, how often and why they visited downtown Greenville, and what they liked least and best about their community.

The survey also provided space for residents to list the topics and problems they felt were most important and which concerned the future of the area.

More than two-thirds of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the appearance of downtown Greenville.

Many people recommended bringing in new types of professional offices and removing some of the eyesores. Specific changes, including removing canvas awnings and repairing the outside of buildings, were also mentioned.

"I would love to see our downtown beautified to extremes," wrote one respondent. "People drive to Franklin, Pa., just to walk the beautiful shops and eat in their many downtown restaurants. With the Shenango River and Greenville's rich historical gifts, downtown should attract people and rock!"

Other survey respondents expressed concerns over the intent of the project. Some people, who said they lived in Hempfield Township, said they didn't want the township to "bail Greenville out of its mess." Another person wrote, "(I'm) concerned this plan will be developed only to sit on a shelf."

Greenville Borough Manager Vance Oakes, who sits on the project's steering committee, said the remarks will be used to develop the comprehensive plan, which will give specific recommendations to improve services offered by the two communities and the economic environment in the area.

Oakes said he was looking forward to going through the numerous pages of responses. "I'm sure some people had quite colorful comments," he said.

A second public meeting to discuss the plan is scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at Hempfield Township Volunteer Fire Department's Station One banquet center on Sixth Avenue. Ms. Senople said an open house format will let people come and go as their schedules allow.

To view the full report or to add comments of your own, visit the Web site www.mcrpc.com/greenville-hempfield/