Downtown Columbia is reimagining the ways locals navigate, develop, and socialize. Last year, the city drafted its Downtown Strategic Plan + Design Guidelines, and now it's time for Columbians to give their input.

The draft highlighted intended goals with its six "big ideas:"

Build two trails to connect popular downtown destinations — the Capital Loop + Vista Loop.
Refresh downtown with accessible streets and sidewalks while increasing the area's tree canopy.
Connect downtown by focusing on safety at intersections.
Reclaim right of way, giving more access to pedestrians and cyclists while deprioritizing vehicles.
Champion downtown's social and cultural presence with a focus on programming and maintenance.
Streamline the development process to protect downtown and provide clear building regulations.

The city is hosting two open houses on Wednesday, March 12 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center discussing this plan. Locals can review the draft, ask questions, and share feedback. The project team is also accepting online comments through Saturday, March 21.