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Downtown Danville Development
Reimagining Downtown Danville
Building on the past to move boldly into the future.
The Downtown Danville Masterplan was developed in 2020 to inspire innovative improvements and development in Downtown Danville. The document serves as a list of ideas or concepts that have proven successful in enriching other communities, or that may fit the culture of Downtown Danville. Many of these concepts will require community participation, private investment or local partnerships to move ahead.
The Study Area
Our study area focuses on the main corridors that run North to South, and East to West through the heart of Downtown Danville. Some of the key locations outside of the Central Business District (CBD) and Historic districts are Centre College and Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. The four major thoroughfares are 3rd and 4th Street traveling north and south, along with Main and Walnut Street traveling east and west, navigating the community in and out of downtown. Other local landmarks in and around our study area include Constitution Square, the Kentucky School for the Deaf, and Michael M. Smith Memorial Park that runs along Clarks Run to the south.
Read the Full Downtown Masterplan: Reimagining Downtown Danville
Completed Projects
The projects listed below have been completed in the Downtown Danville study area. The projects listed have not solely been conducted by the City of Danville, but rather, this is a comprehensive list of the development and improvements happening in our charming Downtown Area, meant to enrich the quality of life for our residents, and welcome visitors.
Downtown Danville Streetscape Project
Project Description
Damaged sidewalks and aged infrastructure beneath them, as well as concerns for pedestrian safety, prompted a redesign of the Downtown Danville Streetscape. The project improves pedestrian safety by enhanced lighting, established features to slow traffic, creating barriers between pedestrian walkways and drivers, and providing a shorter distance for pedestrians crossing streets. The project also creates attractive usable spaces of opportunity for Downtown businesses with expanded "bump-outs" for outdoor sales, dining and events.
Project Components
- Improved and widened sidewalks
- New Street and Sidewalk Lighting
- New Traffic Signal Poles
- New Trees and Planters
- Curb Bump-outs for pedestrian safety
- New Furniture and Amenities
Completion Date:
Fall 2023
Project Cost:
$9,948,484
Awards & Recognitions:
- American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA Kentucky) Merit Award for Constructed Work
- American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Kentucky's Engineering Excellence Award
Champions Hall at Centre College
CHAMPIONS HALL INFO HUB
Champions Hall is a new 135,000-square-foot facility at Centre College devoted to wellness and athletic excellence that opened in February 2024. It benefits the entire campus community and sets a new standard for holistic education at top-ranked residential liberal arts colleges across the nation.
Key components of Champions Hall include:
- A 10-lane, 50-meter pool with a moveable bulkhead, an integrated diving well with 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards, and seating for 700
- A six-lane, 200-meter indoor track and turf infield with event seating for 800. The track is named after Centre coach Lisa H. Owens. This area can easily be increased exponentially by using the turf infield and will double as a large space for campus events, such as the annual Commencement ceremony, concerts and debates
- A 6,000-square-foot strength and wellness center
- A nutrition center that includes an educational component
- Hospitality and engagement areas
- Locker rooms and multipurpose event spaces for activities such as yoga
While benefiting all 25 varsity teams, the aquatic and the track and field components of the new facility offer the opportunity to strategically expand rosters by as many as 70 student-athletes.
More on Champions Hall:
- https://www.centre.edu/news/champions-hall-grand-opening-pool-dedication-homecoming-2024
- Champions Hall saw over 190,000 visitors in 2024 - combining student activity, athletic events, and community events.
Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center has Ribbon Cutting for New Parking Lot
Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (EMRMC) with the help of the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce had a ribbon cutting on January 28, 2025 for the recent addition of a new parking lot. The new lot offers patients and visitors more than 200 spaces to use when visiting the EMRMC campus. Access to the parking lot is available off of Second Street or Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The new parking lot is well-lit and also features emergency call boxes for use during emergencies. Patients and visitors may continue using the visitor parking lot accessed off of Figg Alley. However, that parking lot is anticipated to be shut down later this year once the construction phase of the EMRMC expansion project begins.
Project Description:
The City of Danville Fire Department celebrated the Grand Opening of the new Central Fire Station at 461 W Main Street on August 26, 2022. The new Central Fire Station is a functional and comfortable home for Danville’s firefighters and displays the community’s appreciation for their service. In addition to the modernized office and dormitory spaces, the facility includes the training and equipment areas necessary to keep our firefighters safe and healthy.
Project Cost:
$7,321,636
Contact:
City of Danville Fire Department
859-238-1211
The GLASS Museum features the largest museum collection of internationally acclaimed artist Stephen Rolfe Powell, who is widely recognized as a hot glass master of color. The Art Center of the Bluegrass acquired the collection in 2023 with the goals of keeping the collection together and sharing it with the public. GLASS is open Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, and the price of admission is free.
401 W Main Street
Also Check out Fern Curated Gifts, and Murrini Cafe
What's next?
The City of Danville works closely with businesses and organizations in Downtown Danville. While the City of Danville takes an active role in ensuring adequate infrastructure is in place for any project taking place in the community, private investment and participation by the general public is key to moving projects forward. The projects listed below are considered priorities for the community based on research presented in the Downtown Danville Masterplan and the assessed needs of local organizations.
Active communication and support among community organizations, investors, and property owners is what makes Danville such an exceptional place to invest and do business. Local organizations, working in unison to create a safe and enjoyable space for all community members and visitors, ensures successful and responsible development in Danville. The initiatives listed below are just a sample of concepts or projects that are being thoughtfully considered by a variety of community organizations, including the City of Danville, Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Centre, and others, to enhance safety, accessibility, and enjoyment of Downtown Danville.
- Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center Expansion
- Walnut Street Redesign
- Danville-Boyle County African American Historical Society Expansion
- Boyle County Courthouse Renovations
- Redevelopment at 4th and Walnut
- Downtown Danville Wayfinding
- Expand Public Art offerings
- Encourage Second & Third Story Development of Historic Buildings
- Provide additional housing options
- Expand Danville's Trail System and overall walkability
Community involvement will be a crucial step in maintaining the vibrancy, historical integrity, and community-centered development of Downtown Danville. Follow along on Facebook for opportunities to share your thoughts or get involved! For more information, please contact us at 859-238-1200 or by e-mail.