What can be done to dramatically improve Oakland so that it is known around the country as a singular center of culture, learning, excitement and fun?

Whether it’s transportation, arts, parks, entertainment, buildings, people or a hybrid of all of these and others, what visions can you conjure? What would you change? What would you keep? What would you add?

We’re looking for plans and ideas -- from amateurs and professionals. Include drawings and schematics if you desire. Be specific. We’re interested in macro and micro, from the sweeping to the subtle.

And we want that sublime blend of inspiration and practicality that infuses concepts that can go from pencil marks to groundbreaking.

You have six months to germinate, grow and harvest your ideas. The committee of judges will include Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Editor John G. Craig Jr., architecture critic Patricia Lowry, transportation writer Joe Grata, columnist Tony Norman, development reporter Dan Fitzpatrick and Benchmarks Editor Douglas Heuck.

The judging will be in early December, with the best entries to be ranked and published in our end-of-the-year PG Benchmarks, which will be dedicated to building the best Oakland.