Strong Towns BG Meeting

🚶‍♀️🚴‍♂️ Join Us for the First-Ever Strong Towns Bowling Green Meetup! 🚶‍♂️🚴‍♀️

Are you passionate about making Bowling Green a better place to live? Do you wish you could bike around town without feeling unsafe on busy streets? If you want your kids to have the freedom to walk or bike to school safely, this group is for you! If you're worried about affording your home or rent year after year, or if you're tired of seeing clogged streets and traffic jams in BG, this meeting is for YOU! Whether you’re an urban planning enthusiast or simply want to see positive changes in your neighborhood, come join like-minded folks who care about our community’s future.

**Event Details – snacks will be provided!**
📅 Date: November 14th
🕕 Time: 6:00PM
📍 Location: Meeting Room 1 @ the Lisa Rice Library, downtown Bowling Green

**What is Strong Towns?**
Strong Towns is a national movement of ordinary citizens that are pushing for changes in how our city operates. It focuses on how cities can make smart, incremental changes to improve infrastructure, zoning, and financial health. By rethinking the way we design our cities and invest in development, we can create places that are more walkable, safe, and fiscally responsible—not just for today but for generations to come.
In Bowling Green, this means taking action on issues like infrastructure improvements, zoning reform, and smarter tax policies. Some potential projects could be as simple as organizing community trash pickups, adding signs to sidewalks, moving benches to bus stops, or engaging in tactical urbanism projects that bring quick, creative improvements to public spaces. Our group will also advocate for larger efforts like zoning reform to encourage small businesses and more housing options, as well as tax reform to create a more sustainable future for Bowling Green.

**What to Expect:**
Meet & Greet 🤝: Share your "Strong Towns origin story" or just what brought you here today.
Strong Towns 101 📚: We’ll break down key ideas and how they apply to our city.
Action Planning 🎯: No idle talk—we’ll brainstorm real projects and make plans to turn them into action, from zoning advocacy to tactical urbanism projects.

**Who’s Invited?**
EVERYONE! Whether you’re a local business owner, city leader, student, parent, or just someone who loves Bowling Green, we want you here. No planning expertise is needed—just your ideas, passion, and a desire to learn!

**Keeping It Casual:**
This isn’t a stuffy lecture—it’s a chance to connect with your neighbors, share ideas, and make real change. Bring your questions, your vision for BG, and maybe even a snack to share!

**Need ideas while networking?**
- What small improvement could be made to your street to make it safer for walking and biking? Whether it's adding crosswalks, better lighting, or traffic calming measures, small changes can make a big difference.
- What makes Bowling Green unique, and how can we build on that? From Fountain Square to our historic neighborhoods, how can we protect and enhance what makes our city special?
- Which streets or areas in Bowling Green feel the most dangerous to walk or bike? Let’s talk about which spots need immediate attention and brainstorm solutions like protected bike lanes, widened sidewalks, or pedestrian-friendly crossings.
- How do our current development patterns affect Bowling Green's financial health? Let’s explore how sprawling developments cost the city more in maintenance over time and how more efficient land use could boost long-term financial stability.
- If you had a magic wand, what’s the one thing you’d change about our city? Whether it's more affordable housing, a downtown that’s easier to navigate, or better public transit, share your vision for a better Bowling Green.
- What would a more people-centered Bowling Green look like, instead of a car-centered city? What could we do to prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, and public spaces instead of just cars?
- What are some small-scale projects we can start now to make a big impact? Whether it’s planting trees, moving benches to bus stops, or advocating for new bike lanes, let’s brainstorm some “quick wins” that can inspire broader change across the city.
Let’s work together to create a stronger, more vibrant Bowling Green—starting now! 💪🌟