What would a greater Batavia look like?

Nearly 90 people - residents, politicians, businesspeople, civil workers - took time Friday to dream about what a better Batavia would look like.

For many, it would be an arts-focused town, attracting artists and patrons.

For five hours at "Ignite! Batavia," a brainstorming workshop organized by the Batavia Chamber of Commerce, people bounced ideas around.

"What will come of today? Nobody knows," said Roger Breisch, chamber director, at its conclusion. Although the group did come up with 13 projects to work on, the real value may come from the personal connections established at the workshop, he said. People who didn't know each other before now know there are others interested in hearing the ideas they may have, now or in the future. That's how Batavia's beloved Riverwalk got started, out of a similar event conducted 20 years ago, he said.

The process was chronicled on the group's Facebook page. Small groups came up with ideas to improve the town, and reported to the larger group.

"It was better than I expected," said Shirley Klinsky Mott, an event organizer, saying she especially loved that several people who have lived in the city less than one year came to the event.

The group came up with volunteers to work on a list of projects:

• Fox River.

• Locating opportunities for volunteers.

• Community group resource inventory.

• Batavia area arts council.

• A Hall of Fame of Citizens of the Year.

• Historic streets and signage.

• A Preserve Batavia History group.

• A community access calendar.

• An interactive tourist map.

• Create a group to determine the future of Quarry Beach.

• Sustainable urbanism.

• Arts community gap analysis.

• Coordinating community development.

The arts council proponents have already made plans to meet again, at 11:30 a.m. May 19 at The Rendezvu restaurant. Anyone interested is welcome.

The arts ideas seek to build on what Batavia already has - an artists' cooperative at Water Street Studios, shows run by the Batavia Artists' Guild, the Art in Your Eye Festival, the sculptures already adorning the bridge and the Route 25 sculpture park.

Another major focus was the riverfront, with suggestions to increase access to it, make the Riverwalk bigger, and redevelop several large factory sites into mixed-use properties.

It will be up to the project leaders to take the ideas and run with them. People interested in joining their efforts should visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ignite-Batavia-2010/206530703802?ref=ts, or call Breisch at (630) 879-7134.