Macon Magazine

P H OT O B Y R O B I N G A T T I N E W B E R N LO C A L B U Z Z Macon joins national effort to radically reimagine public spaces MACON HAS JOINED Reimagining the Civic Commons, a national initiative to advance ambitious social, economic and environmental goals through public spaces. For the next three years, Macon will work alongside Lexington, Miami, Minneapolis, San José, Akron, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis and Philadelphia to transform civic assets to connect people of all backgrounds, cultivate trust and create more resilient communities. Macon's project will focus on expanding the Ocmulgee Trail network from just a recreation experience along the river into an equitable bike and pedestrian trail network that connects core neighborhoods to downtown. The expanded network will include downtown parks and connections to Pleasant Hill and East Macon. The team will consist of public and private partnerships. Alex Morrison, of the Macon Bibb County Urban Development Authority, and Robert Walker, of the Macon- Bibb Recreation Department, have agreed to co-chair the effort. Macon leaders note the important role that public spaces have played during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that joining Reimagining the Civic Commons will help them develop strategies to foster more equitable and healthy neighborhoods. "We can bring the experience of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail to the urban core by re-imagining our streets and sidewalks as a playground that enriches our souls," said Chris Sheridan, chair of the Macon Bibb County Urban Development Authority. "We are not isolated in our cars speeding on the same routes from home, to work, to shopping or the same group of friends. Let us reimagine a place where we want to go just to see who we might meet." Reimagining the Civic Commons is a collaborative effort of national foundations, including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. "Many of Knight Macon's key local investments (like College Hill and the Macon Action Plan) have featured significant and highly successful public space components. As we look to collaborate with our local partners on future projects, I am confident that work in Macon's public spaces will be even more highly valued," said Lynn Murphey, Macon program director for the Knight Foundation. "Joining the Reimagining the Civic Commons network allows Macon to learn from elite U.S. cities who have been leading work in this area ... and I'm particularly excited that this timing allows us to focus on our local public spaces just in time for our community's 200th birthday!" —RENEE CORWINE A C P U P PETS ARE A COMFORT DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES WHAT A WILD RIDE IT'S BEEN so far this year. Instead of enjoying a lovely spring like normal, this year our human family members were protecting us all from COVID-19 cooties, practicing social distancing and searching for toilet paper. While we've all been learning about how the Coronavirus works, at the time of this writing there is no evidence that animals played a significant role in spreading the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Further, they indicate the risk of animals spreading the virus to people is low. That is welcome news for animals and everyone who loves them! Many pet parents are struggling to cope with the stress and fear of an unfamiliar deadly virus. They are nervous about their family's safety and health, and anxious about their jobs. This immense level of fear is almost unbearable. But you know what? That's when we're there. We're right beside you showing total disregard for social distancing to offer you unconditional love, endless affection and perpetual adoration. That's probably why it's been noted people with animals seem to fare better during a health crisis. We have an undeniable connection with you that is so strong and intuitive that we know when you're scared and when you're hurting. And we're there to offer the soothing, reassuring comfort of fur therapy. Our devotion to you will continue as long as we live. It's what we do. – PATTI JONES JUNE/JULY 2020 | maconmagazine.com 25

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