DESIGN

Baxley is a quiet and growing small city whose residents take pride in the community’s friendly atmosphere and the city’s historic downtown. Despite being bisected by two major highways, Baxley’s downtown still feels welcoming and walkable. The following design concepts aim to enhance walkability and preserve the palpable sense of community downtown. As the city continues to grow and develop, two key issues will be important to ensure the safety and comfort of the community: heat and flooding. The most heavily paved areas downtown are plagued by drainage problems and intense heat. Both issues can be greatly reduced by investing in street trees. Street trees are proven to be one of the most reliable ways of encouraging walking and reducing traffic speeds. The shade and transpiration of water from trees also helps lower temperatures in urban areas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, trees can help reduce temperatures by up to nine degrees, while also reducing cooling costs for buildings and improving air quality.