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w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m D e c e m b e r 2 0 15 • I NSIGH T | 45 I N S I G H T O N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T B y S e a n P. J o h n s o n G overnment planning efforts don't necessarily inspire a lot of confidence. In many circles, just mentioning a government plan or study conjures up images of thick, spiral bound reports filled with technical and governmental jargon lining rows of shelves, not offering much more than a home to wayward specks of dust. en there is the plan for downtown Appleton. "is is not one of those plans that sits on a shelf," says Jennifer Stephany, executive director of Appleton Downtown Inc., which will contribute $25,000 to the creation of the next plan. "We have really taken this to heart and we use it nearly every day as we go about our work." Indeed, there's no dust on this particular plan — stray ink marks and dense notes in the margins, perhaps, but this is a plan well used and worn by those who set out to make sure Appleton's central core remains a vibrant economic and cultural hub for the community. "You can see the return on the infrastructure investments the city has made," Stephany says. In many ways, the current plan — formally adopted in 2007 — owes much of its success to the first formal downtown plan rolled out in the late 1990s that ultimately led to the construction of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, sparking the Setting the centerpiece Appleton launches a new effort to define downtown success S E A N P. J O H N S O N [continued ] » emergence of a creative economy that is still evolving and driving the sense of downtown as a regional "place to be." at's what makes the next steps so important. Last month, the city of Appleton issued a request for proposals for the statutory updates of its comprehensive plan. Specially noted, however, was an "in-depth rewrite of the Downtown Plan." Given the recent successes of the downtown region, everyone wants to make sure they get this next one right. "We want to look at the trends and the demographics and really ask the question, 'Are we still on the right track?'" says Monica Stage, deputy director of Community and Economic Development for the city of Appleton. "We've earned great accolades with what we have accomplished, but we want to see if we are still on the right track. Or, do we need to try a different approach?" College Avenue was named one of the "Great Places in America" by the American Planning Association in 2014, and the downtown area features prominently when Appleton is mentioned in recent lists of best places to live and other media rankings. As important as College Avenue is, downtown is a much broader tapestry when it comes to both work and play in the city center. at broader understanding of downtown could play a larger role as the next plan for the area comes together. An area of opportunity Attractions such as the Farmers Market and the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center have made downtown Appleton a desired destination for work and play.