EDITORIAL: Take part in the downtown survey

Published 5:00 pm Friday, January 19, 2024

Have you ever visited downtown Milledgeville and thought of a suggestion or improvement you’d like to see made or perhaps something that you’d like to see changed? Maybe it’s lighting or parking or more sidewalks. Or maybe something different altogether. 

Well, Milledgeville Main Street and the Downtown Development Authority want to hear about it. The two entities have launched a survey that allows downtown visitors to share their thoughts and opinions. The survey is part of setting strategic goals and the future. So if you’ve ever thought that there was little point in sharing, here’s your chance. Let them know how you view the downtown atmosphere, what you’d like to see and what you’d like to do without. This is an effort to build a stronger sense of community and build relationships. This isn’t the first downtown survey, and in years past the responses have helped spur Main Street efforts for additional lighting downtown, cleaning up vacant properties and adding to the regular First Friday activities.

Why is your feedback important? This survey is an opportunity to share your likes and dislikes about downtown and to let leaders know what’s working and what could be better. It’s a way to engage with downtown leaders. It’s easy to assume that leaders know what residents or business owners want for the downtown community but sometimes there is an unintended disconnect. This survey can help bridge that divide.

Says Main Street Executive Director Carlee Schulte, “By getting community input and using the data to plan, we hope to build a sense of community for the citizens of Milledgeville-Baldwin County.”

Responding to the survey can help in that effort. 

The survey is open through Feb. 5. The easiest way to access it is via the Milledgeville Main Street Facebook page or visit: https://mailchi.mp/74c4ac700b9f/let-us-know-your-opinion

It only takes a few minutes to complete. The survey questions are multiple-choice and some are open ended so respondents can input more specific feedback. Help steer the direction of downtown Milledgeville and impact the vision for the future.