GREENFIELD — An organization of community stakeholders aimed at revitalizing downtown Greenfield will now focus on updating the city’s comprehensive plan, which was penned in 2006.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. One chapter has closed.
During the past four months, the group has regularly met with Sharon Canaday with Ball State’s Building Better Communities program.
The coalition met with her for the final time Thursday.
Canaday helped members form subcommittees to address all of the coalition’s goals and helped the group create a vision for what it wants to accomplish.
2. Next up: a comprehensive plan update
The coalition’s purpose is twofold: organizers wanted it to help implement the plan and to help
City planning director Joanie Fitzwater update the community’s entire comprehensive plan.
On Thursday, the group met with Aaron Kowalski, urban planner and designer for RATIO Design. RATIO is expected to help city officials update the 2006 comprehensive plan.
Fitzwater said several of the coalition’s members will be part of a steering committee to help lead that process. It’s important for the coalition’s goals and vision for the city to be included in the plan.
3. The coalition has formed seven subcommittees.
Seven subcommittees — covering entrepreneurship, downtown business and food; historic preservation; fitness; arts; festivals; housing and education — have met to prioritize steps the coalition needs to take to make the revitalization plan a reality.
Those groups will continue to meet in coming months to work toward goals they set, including supporting businesses, promoting tourism, creating the Riley Art and Literary Trail and planning street festivals.
