Thomasville Planner Collaborates on Urban Revitalization in Colusa

City Planner Kenny Thompson recently participated as a consultant with the American Planning Association’s Urban Design and Preservation Rapid Assistance Team (D-PRAT) during a three-day workshop held in Colusa, California. This pro-bono initiative aims to support under-resourced communities by offering expert guidance in areas such as urban design, historic preservation, and public space planning.

Thompson expressed pride in representing the City of Thomasville while assisting Colusa in their collaborative planning efforts. The workshop focused on revitalizing the city’s downtown area, specifically enhancing their historic Main Street through various targeted strategies.

During the workshop, Thompson led a team dedicated to the adaptive reuse of historic buildings within the downtown core. The team evaluated underutilized structures, examined potential façade improvement incentives, identified tools for downtown development, and explored opportunities for public art programming.

“Our goal was to develop a vision that not only revitalizes the downtown but also enhances the public realm,” Thompson stated. “We are creating a roadmap that will encourage economic vitality, activate the riverfront, and improve overall quality of life in the community.”

Looking ahead, the D-PRAT team will continue to work on an Idea Book for Colusa. This resource will outline actionable steps to implement the strategies discussed during the workshop.

“It is extremely rewarding to assist peer cities in crafting development strategies that will positively affect their communities,” Thompson added.

For more information about D-PRAT or the City of Thomasville Planning Department, individuals can reach out via email at [email protected].