Cedar Rapids residents can let their voices be heard on how the city’s past can be integral to its future.

Meetings planned May 1 and May 2 will help shape future development in the Wellington Heights Neighborhood. At the same time, an effort by Save CR Heritage asks to see what places “matter to you” in a new Facebook campaign.

Facebook friends can post a comment or photos of buildings or other sites in the city that are important to them on the non-profit’s Facebook page.

“I don’t know who owns this house, but I <3 that we still have more than a few grand homes in town,” Save CR Heritage member Vaclav Hasek posted, with an image of a home in northwest Cedar Rapids. “This place matters to me.”

Comments and photos can help determine a focus for preservation efforts.

Cedar Rapids also is looking for direction for the Wellington Heights neighborhood.

Sara Lunsford, compliance monitoring specialist for the city, said the goal of the planning meetings is to improve the quality of life in the Wellington Heights neighborhood through targeted reinvestment.

“We want to get information from the public for future reinvestment for the next five to 10 years,” she said.

Lunsford said the city only has until June to complete the planning project, with funding through a Community Development Block Grant.

Meetings, from noon to 2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. both Wednesday, May 1, and Thursday, May 2, will be at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE.

Participants on Wednesday will share their views and experiences in large and small groups and discuss proposed plans and goals on key neighborhood issues: housing, sustainability, economic vitality, connectivity and community needs.

Based on that input, those attending Thursday will respond to draft plans and participate in a neighborhood shareholders exercise. Participants are eligible for a prize drawing.

SAA Design Group of Madison, Wisc., was hired to provide technical assistance in developing the plan.

For more information, call the city’s Community Development Housing Services division at 319-286-5872 or see: www.CityofCR.com.

FYI: Find Save CR Heritage and other groups at the Preservation Showcase on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at CSPS in the New Bohemia District.