Our Downtown 2040 Vision Statement
Over the next 20 years, Downtown Harrisonburg will continue to rebuild and grow while retaining its hometown feel so that residents and visitors alike can enjoy all the a city has to offer coupled with the heart and soul of a small town.
As the heart of the Friendly City, Downtown will welcome new residents, and as the heartbeat of the Shenandoah Valley, it will grow and support the local and regional business ecosystem.
To ease growing pains, Downtown will coordinate new development with investments in infrastructure (such as sidewalks, parking, green infrastructure, and sustainable technology) to support new growth, and to maintain our sense of place, we’ll uncover hidden narratives, share our rich history, and preserve elements of our quirky character.
Downtown will celebrate the outdoors and beauty of the city and region, by getting people our of their cars and exploring Downtown at slower speeds.
Downtown will celebrate the outdoors and beauty of the city and region, by getting people out of their cars and exploring Downtown at slower speeds.
Walking and biking along streets that are active, green, safe, and punctuated with public art
Meandering along lesser-known paths that connect different destinations
Enjoying downtown as a departure point for exploring new trails in the region and new parks and natural features within downtown itself
And absorbing stories from the past, beginning with the Native American people who originally settled here
We will work together as neighbors, colleagues, and friends to deepen our shared sense of community, ensuring that Downtown is a place where there’s something for everyone and everyone belongs- people of all ages, different races and ethnicities, with different cultures, languages, and religions, students, families… not just friendly, but intentionally inclusive with equitable opportunities.
Downtown is where we come together as a community, where connections are made, and a central driving force for our collective future.
We will work together as neighbors, colleagues, and friends to deepen our shared sense of community, ensuring that Downtown is a place where there’s something for everyone and everyone belongs—people of all ages, different races and ethnicities, with different cultures, languages, and religions, students, families… not just friendly, but intentionally inclusive with equitable opportunities.
Downtown is where we come together as a community, where connections are made, and a central driving force for our collective future.
*All words in bold and italics words came directly from the community.
Read about our progress in detail.
Our Mission
Our mission to support and enhance the downtown hasn’t changed. What’s evolving is our approach—becoming more strategic, more inclusive, and more focused on economic development, while fostering community connections and creating an authentic downtown that resonates with residents and attracts visitors. We have many new opportunities ahead, and we’re going to figure out what’s next together.