Macon-Bibb County Unveils MAP XL: A Bold New Vision for Urban Development

The third iteration of the Macon Action Plan (MAP), known as MAP XL, has officially been launched, promising exciting enhancements for Macon-Bibb County. On October 22, 2024, key stakeholders, including the MAP Steering Committee, Urban Development Authority (UDA), NewTown, Community Foundation of Central Georgia (CFCGA), Knight Foundation, Peyton Anderson Foundation, and Macon-Bibb County, gathered at Long Leaf Distillery to celebrate its release.

“We knew, sitting around the table in 2023, that one, the work was not done, and two, there was so much more to that story and that we had to take it to the next level,” said UDA Executive Director Alex Morrison, who also serves as the Director of Planning and Public Spaces.

MAP XL features plans for more family-friendly spaces, including the proposal to close a section of Cherry Street to create an open area between the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the Tubman African American Museum. Additionally, the plan emphasizes connecting various parts of the community through a network of trails.

“This was built by you,” stated Scott Page, Principal of Interface Studio, the firm behind the development of MAP XL. “These ideas, your priorities, your hopes for the city are what we’re trying to capture in this project.”

The development of MAP XL was driven by extensive community input, gathered through an online survey and two open houses held at Fall Line Brewing Co. in August 2023 and at the Tubman African American Museum in January.

The Macon Action Plan serves as a comprehensive, community-driven roadmap for the future of Macon’s Urban Core. The UDA has received substantial grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Peyton Anderson Foundation to support this initiative, ensuring that it aligns with the collective aspirations of the community.

“This plan is bigger, it’s better, and it’s taking us to the next level. That’s why it’s called MAP XL,” Morrison added, highlighting the ambitious nature of this updated vision for Macon-Bibb County.