Input sought on downtown revitalization plan

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Downtown Milford could look a lot different in the near future, and residents are invited to give their input through April 15.

The city is working on plans to revitalize the downtown business district.

Representatives from Confluence, a landscape architecture firm from Omaha hired by the city, held a community open house March 29.

They presented ideas for revitalization efforts and asked those who attended to vote for their favorites.

A kickoff meeting for the project was held in December 2021, when the public was asked to offer ideas on sidewalks, landscaping, building improvments, parking, lighting and signs in the downtown area.

Thirteen people attended that meeting.

An advisory committee comprised of eight members from different sectors of the community met to assess existing conditions and see what opportunities and challenges lie ahead for the revitalization.

Confluence took input on the overall vision until January, with 10 people submitting comments online.

The advisory committee and architecture firm then distilled the ideas into a few main concepts and created drawings of  what each could look like.

“One of our goals is to activate Milford as a destination,” said Caitlin Bolte, landscape architect with Confluence.

That could mean creating easy access to the Big Blue River for boating and recreation or creating outdoor cafe seating outside local businesses to make them more inviting.

Other goals including honoring the historic brick currently used on the streets and improving the pedestrian experience with safer walkways and more aesthetically pleasing gathering spaces.