H o m e Aw ay f r o m H o m e Community members want a vibrant downtown that serves as a regular destination for locals. Across the community, public input participants indicated that Hawkinsville could benefit from active social businesses like cafés, an ice cream parlor, a brewery, or 3 similar establishments that could act as a neighborhood anchor and bring activity to downtown after 5:00. Locals want a downtown that offers variety and life, with plenty to see and do throughout the day and into the evening hours. Public input participants indicated that Hawkinsville could benefit from expanded public spaces and outdoor activities like food trucks, outdoor music events, sidewalk dining, and other programming that could attract residents from across the community downtown. Through regular events and activities that bring life to underutilized areas like vacant lots, community members want to reestablish downtown as the heart and soul of the community. Moving forward, the city and local partners should continue to support places and events that already bring the community downtown and should work to grow venues that attract local residents and families.
Issue
A c t i v a t e t h e R i ve r Hawkinsville residents see the city’s location along the Ocmulgee River as a unique asset and untapped resource that sets the city apart. Indeed, Hawkinsville was founded because of the city’s site along the Ocmulgee and served as a bustling river port for 4 many decades. Already, public areas like Veterans Park and the Uchee Shoals Boat Landing attract residents and visitors to this impressive natural resource. Many public input participants favored improving and expanding access to public spaces along the river. Local residents in step one of the Hawkinsville RSVP also saw the opportunity to attract businesses like a river outfitter to bring a variety of activities to the riverfront. Encouraging riverfront activities like kayaking or recruiting a riverfront brewery or other destination could help make downtown a more diverse and appealing attraction in future years.
Issue
17
