Last week, community leaders gathered in Mansfield, Ohio for the quarterly Reinvention Cities Network Roundtable. Quarterly roundtables provide legacy city leaders with the opportunity to learn, network, and engage with their peers across the state. More than twenty leaders joined together, representing seven legacy cities.
The Roundtable last week was the second in-person gathering for the Network since the COVID-19 pandemic shifted quarterly Roundtables to virtual meetings. Network members and GOPC acknowledge that being together in-person provides a richer opportunity for leaders to network, learn, and see revitalization first-hand in their peer communities. Sincere appreciation to our host city and the Richland County Foundation for providing meeting space, lunch, and facilitating an afternoon walking tour of Mansfield’s Imagination District.
Community leaders began the meeting with community updates about the revitalization work underway. Mansfield community leaders presented on the city’s downtown revitalization efforts, including the addition of bike trails to access downtown, the remediation of a blighted brownfield along a main corridor adjacent to the downtown, and the streetscape improvements along a main thoroughfare the city will establish as a two-way street with improved walking paths, greenery, and lighting.
Participants made their way to the city’s Imagination District, exploring the area the City and County are in the planning process to establish a linear park. To end the day, participants learned about the Renaissance Theatre and the Buckeye Children’s Museum. A special thank you to Chelsie Thompson, Executive Director of the Renaissance Theatre and Fred Boll, Executive Director of the Buckeye Children’s Museum, for presenting to the Network.
The Roundtable informally ended with the opportunity for participants to explore their inner child at the Buckeye Children’s Museum!
2023 Reinvention Cities Meeting | Mansfield
