In addition to having a number of City officials and community members from various walks of life in attendance during Thursday night’s community forum, there were multiple local businesses represented as well.
Residents met to learn more about the City’s partnership with Ball State University’s Department of Urban Planning and Community Based Projects and to participate in one of the preliminary steps for a proposed downtown revitalization plan and façade upgrade program.
The handful of grad-students helped to facilitate the exercise and sat with each table as they deliberated about three questions: What do you like about downtown Knox that you’d like to retain? What do you dislike about the downtown area that you’d like to change? and What is your vision for the downtown area?
After each table had a chance to talk amongst themselves, the answers were shared with the entire group. There were a lot similar comments at each table which demonstrated that there is some consistency with the various priorities that were identified.
A survey with similar questions is available for residents to take online and hard copies can be accessed at the Mayor’s Office. Individuals only have until Friday, January 31st to get that completed so their perspective can be incorporated into the process
All of the answers from the survey and community forum will be analyzed by Professor Michael Burayidi and his students throughout the month of February. The team will return in March to present their findings to the public.
Thursday’s event will be the focus of this week’s Kankakee Valley Viewpoint Program which will air this Sunday at noon on K99.3 WKVI.
Click the following link to access the Downtown Revitalization Survey.
