Reimagining the Civic Commons (RCC) released a report on civic engagement, Investing with Intention: Our Four Outcomes, that focuses on the successes of two cities: Macon, GA and Lexington, KY. They were selected because of their work to advance civic engagement and strengthen democracy through public spaces. For Macon, RCC cites the Macon Action Plan (MAP) as a national example of how cities can creatively involve residents in improving their communities.

“Our Downtown and surrounding neighborhood’s current resurgence and successes can be tied directly to the partnerships, shared vision, passion, and strength of will formed through the Macon Action Plan,” says Alex Morrison, Executive Director of the Urban Development Authority, which is the convening organization. “We could not have done this without the support of people living and working throughout Downtown, as well as the support of the Knight Foundation, Peyton Anderson Foundation, and city government.”

“There is strong evidence of the benefits of a civically engaged community. In today’s environment of declining trust and a threatened democracy, reviving local public life is more important than ever,” says Bridget Marquis, Director of the Reimagining the Civic Commons Network. “People who live in communities with robust local civic life trust one another more, share more resources, and experience a greater sense of social cohesion. And when people have higher levels of trust, economies are bolstered, and democracy is strengthened.”

“At Knight, we know public spaces work best when they intentionally meet residents’ needs and that only happens best when people are informed and engaged. We have proudly supported this work in Macon for close to two decades and are thrilled that, with this national recognition, others will now have an opportunity to learn from Macon’s success,” says Lynn Murphey, Knight Foundation Director for Macon.

The RCC’s report cites the Macon team’s use of “democraticized implementation,” meaning they actively engage people and groups in planning, designing, and building projects, as opposed to centralizing it with one organization. It was approved in 2015 after an 18 month-long planning process that was open to the entire community and included input from more than two thousand people through engaging public meetings and events, online forms, and more.

The plan – thanks to initial funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Peyton Anderson Foundation ($1.5 million from each) and grant implementation by the Community Foundation of Central Georgia – the Downtown community and surrounding neighborhoods have completed eighty percent of the strategies and project in the original plan. Downtown, through the success of MAP, has also attracted more than $400 million in additional public and private investment.

“Unlike many master plans that involve community input but rely on government implementation, MAP centers the community in its implementation of projects,” the report reads. “By doing so, they’ve created a fertile environment for sustained civic engagement.”

With the overwhelming success that was led by the community through MAP, Macon has been selected to host the next nation-wide Civic Commons Studio from April 11-13, and will feature more than 100 public space experts from cities and leading nonprofits from across the country. They will tour the city, learn about Macon’s public spaces and revitalization efforts, explore Downtown’s connection to the Historic Pleasant Hill neighborhood, and learn about the collaborative efforts to turn Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park into Georgia’s first National Park. Click here for the Studio’s full agenda.

“This will be a great chance for leaders from across the country to understand how Macon’s unique approach, through the Macon Action Plan, is bringing people back into public life to shape their community’s future,” adds Marquis.

“This is an accomplishment made possible by a number of outstanding local leaders and partners, including the local Reimagining Civic Commons co-chairs, Alex Morrison, Urban Development Authority Executive Director, and Robert Walker, Macon-Bibb’s Director of Recreation,” adds Murphey.

“Being selected to host the studio is a validation of the work we have been doing in Macon to create a better future together through civic engagement and an improved public realm,” adds Morrison. “Once again, the nation is looking at Macon as a national leader of democratizing both its planning and implementation of public projects, and building a more inviting, inclusive, and prosperous community for all people.”

About the Macon Action Plan

The Macon Action Plan (MAP) is a comprehensive, community-driven, plan that envisions the future of Macon’s Urban Core. The Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority received generous grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Peyton Anderson Foundation to fund this effort to plan for our collective future. Facilitated by the Macon-Bibb Urban Development Authority, Macon-Bibb County, and their partners, MAP is our roadmap to guide change and decision making in coming years.

MAP was approved in October 2015, summarizing an 18 month-long planning process that included input from more than two thousand people. The plan – thanks to initial funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Peyton Anderson Foundation ($1.5 million from each) and grant implementation by the Community Foundation of Central Georgia – the Downtown community has completed eighty percent of the strategies and project in the original plan. Downtown, through the success of MAP, has also attracted more than $400 million in additional public and private investment.

About Reimagining Civic Commons in Macon

Macon is one of 12 participating cities in the Reimagining the Civic Commons learning network, a national initiative which aims to demonstrate how public spaces can connect people of all backgrounds, cultivate trust, and create more resilient communities. Macon’s Civic Commons team is composed of representatives of city government, philanthropy and local nonprofits, and the team joined the network in 2020. Macon aims to be an example for the national initiative of how an innovative, strategic, and community-led approach to public space investment can lead to a more engaged, resilient city.

“Participating in the civic commons network gives us a toolkit and process to ensure quality public space that drives value and equity in our community,” says Alex Morrison, the project’s co-lead convener and Executive Director of the Urban Development Authority. “This effort is helping us reconnect with the type of design that our city founders laid out.”

The Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority is the convening agency for this effort. Active and engaged partners working together include the AARP, Bike Walk Macon, Causey Construction Consulting, the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Friends of Rosa Parks Square, JBK Southern, Inc., Macon-Bibb Community Enhancement Authority, Macon-Bibb County Consolidated Government, Main Street Macon Christmas Lights Extravaganza, NewTown Macon, Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, the Peyton Anderson Foundation, Rhythm and Jazz, WT Designs, the JPB Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and the William Penn Foundation.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

We are social investors who support a more effective democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and in the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers.