In January 2022, the High Ridge Initiative was born out of neighborhood discussions about what residents loved about the neighborhood and wanted to see improved. In April of 2022, the High Ridge Initiative was accepted as an Impact Clay Project and began following the model that the College Drive Initiative had used to become a county community development initiative. Throughout October, 10 Deliberative Forums devised through the Kettering Foundation took place. Over 100 Clay County citizens, nonprofit organizations, Clay County staff, local educators, the City of Keystone Heights officials, and local business owners worked together to envision the future of High Ridge Estates. This process resulted in areas of focus for revitalization.

1. Community Safety- High Ridge has the potential to become a vibrant neighborhood where families can enjoy a walk around the neighborhood after work and school. Deliberators agreed that maintaining roads, rehabilitation of private properties, animal control, and drug prevention were all critical issues facing the community.

2. People Power- High Ridge and Keystone Heights residents have shown interest and initiative in strengthening the neighborhood. There is a desire to improve relationships and increase education between residents, county departments, and other agencies like CCSO, Clay Transit, Code Enforcement, and Community Services.

3. Caring for Neighbors- Due in part to the size of the antiquated subdivision, access to essential services is limited. High Ridge residents agree that there is a need for easier access to medical, social, and food resources. More reliable, local transportation along with some local economic development would be helpful.

In January 2023, the Clay County Board of County Commissioners fully approved the High Ridge Initiative as a community development initiative. It is an exciting time to be a part of something that will benefit so many citizens, and the High Ridge community invites you to join them on this journey. If you want to join the team, please email HRI@missionofthedirtroad.com or follow us on Facebook at for all the upcoming events you can attend. You can also find more information on our Linktree page.

The Steering Committee

The Steering Committee meets the second Monday of the month, 6-7:30 p.m., at Mission of the Dirt Road.