Public and private community figures are gazing into Meridian’s future, factoring parking, greenery and economic development into their vision. 

“This is what we call a planning charette for the Master Plan in Meridian,” said Bob Luke, a Meridian architect whose firm, LPK Architects, will design a master plan for  the city.  “A charette is an intense, designing work session… and we were able to get stockholders and investors in the community here to discuss.”

During Wednesday’s session at the MSU-Riley Center, small groups of leaders tackled individual problems – such as ways to entice people from Interstate 20 to downtown – and presented ideas for group discussion. 

Elic Purvis, owner of The Venue, presented his group’s ideas about Meridian’s culture. 

“We tried to develop an action plan from what we already have to what we want to see,” Purvis said. 

Purvis discussed ways to encourage local residents to become business owners, especially those involved with the community, rather than out-of-town investors. 

Presenters also discussed the possibility of a trolley system from the future Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian, across from the Meridian Police Station on 22nd Avenue, to downtown — which would also relieve pressure on parking and traffic in the area

Neil Couvillion, a landscaping architect from Starkville who consults with Luke, shared his expertise  about creating a network of parks and inviting greenery. 

“We’re looking at the existing land and trying to provide a cohesive plan with the material available that creates a sense of permanency,” Couvillion said. “I think we have to look at the trees and other plant material to make sure we aren’t creating future problems.”

Couvillion said planting trees that grow too large – such as cypress or magnolia trees – would pose maintenance problems.

The corridor between Interstate 20 and 22nd Avenue posed a challenge for those gathered, who want it to be more walking friendly with businesses and restaurants. 

City planner and architect Dynelle Long, with LPK Architects, discussed making the 22nd Avenue bridge over the railroad more pedestrian friendly.

She asked the crowd, “How do we create an experience through that corridor?”

“This is our front door but we do have other entrances,” Luke said to the group, urging them to also remember the other highways into Meridian. 

One area that many had difficulty tackling in downtown was the availability of parking. 

Jonathan Wells, District 1 Lauderdale County Supervisor, said many residents didn’t want to use the downtown parking garage and walk the few blocks between their destinations.

“We can’t get our people to walk now,” Wells said. “But maybe once downtown goes in this direction, our people will be forced to use the parking garage we’ve got.”

Luke said whatever traffic considerations addressed by the master plan will have to be balanced with the interests of pedestrians as well.

“I’m a little concerned about how we move one group through downtown while encouraging the other to stop,” Luke said. “How do we create a pedestrian-friendly environment?”

Luke and others stressed that this initial meeting was a way to combine ideas and hear from stakeholders. 

Dennis Sankovich, the executive director of the MSU-Riley Center, said he felt “throwing ideas on up on the board” was beneficial. 

“It gave us all a chance to put issues and ideas up on the board,” Sankovich said. “It was an initial brain storming.”

For Sankovich, the future of the city will directly impact the Riley Center.

“The Riley Center has been up for a number of years,” Sankovich said. “But the infrastructure around it has remained somewhat unchanged… We want to make it more visitor friendly for the people who come to us in the Riley Center.”

Luke said that there would be an opportunity for all members of the public to have their input on the plan, anticipating the release of a traffic study in December. 

“We want to create a city where we can live, love and grow successfully,” Luke said, repeating the catchphrase of the meeting. “As you know, if we don’t grow, we die.”

Luke identified the two difficulties for growth as funding and a lack of agreement between all parties.

“We have to grow that private sector and the public sector has to become more efficient,” Luke said. “We need to let people know that this is an initial work session… it helps us with the pathway.”