Plymouth officials seeking public input about redesign of downtown
Like an aging beauty, downtown Plymouth is beginning to show its years.
According to Downtown Development Authority Director Sam Plymale, the city is entering a multi-year planning process to determine what Main Street and the surrounding areas will look like for the next two or three decades. As part of a five-year plan that began last year, the city has hired SmithGroup, a planning and design firm, to lead the process of a new look for the downtown area.
Current areas of concern are the aging Honey Locust trees planted 30 years ago, which have reached the end of their lifespan; aging brickwork and planters, which show wear; and areas around Main Street could use upgrades and improvements to infrastructure in the city will need repair or replacement soon.
City officials have planned an informational open house from 5:50 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Plymouth Cultural Center. They are hoping for input from residents, business owners and visitors to help prioritize and design improvement plans. A presentation is planned for 6:30, but the public can enter any time during the 3-hour open house to view some plans and provide input.
“This project is really about what downtown Plymouth will look like for the next several decades,” DDA Director Sam Plymale said. “We want to be respectful to the historic nature of our downtown, but we also recognize there are things that need upgrading.”
Officials are hoping to attract the attention of younger residents who will be living with the designs and plans for the next few decades. No plans or designs have been finalized or selected, officials stressed, and the project is in the information-gathering stage.
The public engagement process will continue through June 2026, according to Plymale, and several future surveys and open houses are planned. An online survey is currently available at downtownplymouth.org. Final concepts should be available next summer, although no construction is expected to begin before 2027.
