(Waupun) The city of Waupun is partnering with UW Extension and is seeking public input on its planning process. Later this month, the Extension will lead a workshop in the city of Waupun called Design Wisconsin. A Design Wisconsin team comprised of community planning and design professionals will work with community members using a variety of public participation methods to uncover redevelopment opportunities in the city’s downtown.
Waupun’s Business Improvement District and city economic development staff worked with a team from the Extension to complete a market analysis in 2020. The Design Wisconsin process builds on that work and provides technical assistance to find ways to enhance downtown vitality by improving underutilized spaces.
A USDA Rural Business Development Grant secured by the Extension funds the project. City administrator Kathy Schlieve says Waupun is dealing with a lack of available space so their focus is on improving underutilized locations.
“And think about designs for the future because what we need…if it’s a grant opportunity or any work we infuse into our capital planning process…it needs to be informed…we don’t want to just make random change nor do we want to guess at what that change should be,” says Schlieve. “Planning is a really important part of that process and this is a chance to start to get some renderings and conceptual ideas.”
Members of the city’s Business Improvement District and Community Development Authority, along with area youth and community members, will work with the Design Wisconsin team over the course of a two-day workshop to identify and assess possible improvement projects in Waupun’s central business district.
The workshop will include a walking tour and planning and design discussions. Schlieve says she is excited to incorporate ideas from the community’s youth.
“And I think that’s a group of people that often gets overlooked,” says Schlieve. “We’ve worked with the local high school and there’ll be a team of students who will have a really clear, sound voice…to hear what are they thinking about the future of this community and what do they want to see. Because I suspect it’s going to look a little different then what we might think.”
The two day workshop is September 18th and 19th. A community survey is open until then that the community can provide their own thoughts on different assets in the city. Planning and design concepts generated by the Design Wisconsin team will be presented to the public on the 19th at the Junior/Senior High School at 7pm.
Click HERE for the survey.
