The Heart of Our City—Downtown

Downtown is the heart of any city—it’s where businesses grow, the community gathers, and the city’s identity thrives (or falters). A strong downtown means economic stability, a sense of place, and stronger community connections. 

💪 Our Strengths 

Meadville’s downtown is already home to a variety of fantastic local businesses with owners dedicated to making our city better and awesome events that bring people in and add to the energy. 

❓ What’s Missing? 

A few months ago, I came across the term “behavioral infrastructure” while listening to a city planning podcast. It refers to designing spaces that encourage walking, social interaction, and engagement with both people and local businesses—think about the Arc Community Greenspace on Market Street as an example. 

But the concept really clicked for me after attending a presentation by the Meadville Community Revitalization Corporation (MCRC), where placemaking expert Phil Myrick used the word “explorable” to describe a thriving downtown where people spend their entire day experiencing the city. No matter what we call it, the bottom line is this: we need more inviting spaces that encourage people to gather, stay, and engage. 

🏛️ A Top Priority 

If elected to Meadville City Council, revitalizing downtown will be one of my top priorities. The reality is that City Council’s budget has little extra funding for improving behavioral infrastructure—that’s why we need strong partnerships. Working with residents, local businesses, and organizations like MCRC will be key to raising funds, bringing in experts, and developing a plan to make our downtown even better.