Civic
EXISTING CONDITIONS: The Civic planning area embodies the public resources and facilities present Downtown. The new Franklin High school, municipal building, firehouse, public library, and other such properties are included in this area. The community does not envision drastic change occurring here in the next decade. Instead, the focus lies on maintaining the public service facilities and exploring possibilities for expanding pedestrian-focused activity around them. The intent is to activate these areas for active public use through programming and infrastructure that can promote and support increased activity. This area offers much potential for supporting a thriving Main St with supplementary parking and event spillover spaces such as plazas, outdoor dining areas, etc.
The current uses bring a steady stream of workers and visitors into this area. As a focal point for many visitors to Downtown, we should encourage strong attractions and connections to encourage people to spend more time here. The new High school, in particular, is a huge opportunity to help generate more foot traffic and interest Downtown. There is much scope to effectively capitalize upon this potential by strengthening pedestrian connections within and around this area.
RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES:
- Pursue opportunities to create spaces and infrastructure that can support social events and programmed activities within this area
- Municipal building parking lots can be consolidated with alleyway parking and offered for public parking after work hours and on weekdays to encourage people to spend more time in Downtown
- Adapt redundant parking or vacant lots for pop-up events. Promote the use of vacant lots for temporary parks and other activities that support the regular use of these areas and thereby discourage littering or other undesirable activities from occurring here
- Provide provisions for bike parking and other conveniences to incentivize bikers on the river trail into Downtown. Strategically located parking areas and other amenities such as bike racks can ensure bike users are encouraged to enter and spend time in downtown
- Improve pedestrian connections around and into Downtown. Invest in vibrant crosswalks and mending broken links in the sidewalk network to encourage regular foot traffic in the area.
