On Tuesday, October 8, Reimagining the Civic Commons — a collaboration of national foundations and civic leaders dedicated to revitalizing public spaces in ways that benefit communities — announced its third round of investment in 10 cities, including Macon-Bibb County. 

The funding will be used in the cities to transform public spaces in ways that counteract harmful trends facing America, from social isolation to economic segregation to climate change. The cities will use the investments to create or enhance a variety of civic spaces, including trails, parks, community centers, neighborhood main streets, active transportation corridors and public gardens.

Macon-Bibb County will receive $750,000 over the next three years to continue the neighborhood-led, multi-organization collaborative work happening in the Historic Pleasant Hill Neighborhood. This will include continuing the work to reconnect the neighborhood and mitigate the damage done by the interstate’s construction decades ago, funding capacity-building for leadership to improve outcomes of impoverished neighborhoods through public spaces investment, neighborhood events, and more. 

"Our team has been dedicated to creating a stronger sense of belonging in the Pleasant Hill Neighborhood through cultural preservation, community engagement, and collaborative planning with partners," says Community Planner Tonja Khabir. "We are excited to continue the work we've done in connecting with over 400 residents and community members to shape a vision for the future. With this support, we're pumped to push forward with our plans, heal past wounds from divisive infrastructure, and power up our neighborhood for sustainable growth!"

“Macon’s RCC efforts stand apart because of the broad array of partners at the table together focusing on solving issues in real time. Participating in the network has unlocked new potential for projects and healing in Macon’s urban core,” says Alex Morrison, Executive Director of the Urban Development Authority. “It has been a joy to lead it for the last several years, and this expansion and funding will take our work to the next level.”

“With Americans’ trust in government at an all-time low, the collaborative efforts in Macon-Bibb’s Pleasant Hill neighborhood show a new way forward,” said Bridget Marquis, Director of Reimagining the Civic Commons. “This community-driven approach to the public realm will be a model for any city aiming to co-create a hopeful future for neighborhoods that have experienced disinvestment.”

“Some people say you can’t fix the wrongs of the past, but our work through Reimagining the Civic Commons and Macon Action Plan are showing that we can make things right moving forward, that we can come together to make life better for everyone,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “What’s happening in Historic Pleasant Hill – from the Blight Fight to new affordable housing to creating new parks to reconnecting the two halves to downtown to eating to services and more…is just the start of what needs to be done. But it will have decades of impact.”

The Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority is the convening agency for this effort. Active and engaged partners working together include the AARP, Bike Walk Macon, Causey Construction Consulting, the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Friends of Rosa Parks Square, JBK Southern, Inc., Macon-Bibb Community Enhancement Authority, Macon-Bibb County Consolidated Government, Main Street Macon Christmas Lights Extravaganza, NewTown Macon, Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, the Peyton Anderson Foundation, Rhythm and Jazz, WT Designs, the JPB Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and the William Penn Foundation.