Downtown Danville Streetscape Project earns national recognition

The Downtown Danville Streetscape Project gains national recognition

The City of Danville, along with design firm, Gresham Smith, were recognized at the 2025 American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky’s Engineering Excellence Awards ceremony on March 27^th for the design of the Downtown Danville Streetscape Project.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky (ACEC-KY)is the statewide organization that represents the interests of engineering firms throughout the Commonwealth and presents the Excellence Awards annuallyt o projects that exemplify innovation, complexity and value in the community.  

Receiving the Excellence Award at the state level earned the Downtown Danville Streetscape Project a National Recognition Award from the parent organization, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) which will be presented at its Engineering Excellence Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. in May.

Downtown Danville Streetscape Project

Proudly known as the “City of Firsts,” Danville, Kentucky, like other cities, experienced a gradual decline in vitality over time as growth and development shifted toward the metropolitan outskirts. Recognizing the need to reignite the town’s unique vibrancy at its core, the City of Danville embarked on a journey to unite the community around a shared vision for moving downtown forward.

The initial phase in this revitalization process began with a redesign of Main Street, known as the “Downtown Danville Streetscape Project”. Tasked with leading this transformative effort, the Gresham Smith team worked alongside the City of Danville to establish three key guiding principles: Connecting People, Places and Culture; Making Streets for People; and Infilling Blocks, Lots and Buildings.

The Downtown Danville Streetscape project was completed in the Fall of 2023 and includes several added safety features meant to slow traffic and protect pedestrians. These features include enhanced lighting, wider sidewalks, and shorter crosswalks. The wider sidewalks replaced a previously narrow walkway which had been damaged by tree roots and erosion, creating a safety hazard for pedestrians.

The completed project promotes economic activity, social events, and boasts amenities like benches, outdoor café areas and improved landscaping, adding to the ambience of the historic Downtown area. A new fountain can be admired at the front of Weisiger Park, which serves the community’s outdoor event venue for outdoor concerts, holiday celebrations and more.

“Travel down Main Street on any given day and you’ll see life happening, people taking a stroll, discovering new local businesses, and planning for events. It’s a beautiful thing!” says Danville Mayor J.H. Atkins, “Receiving the 2025 Engineering Excellence Award is such an honor and is truly the “icing on the cake” as we continue to see new businesses and creativity coming to life in Downtown Danville.”

While the Downtown Danville Streetscape project is complete, the City of Danville continues to reference its Downtown Danville Masterplan as a guide for future development and creating exceptional spaces for all.

The 2025 ACEC of Kentucky Engineering Excellence Award is now proudly displayed at Danville’s City Hall. The Downtown Danville Streetscape Project’s success is a testament to the vision of the Danville community and the bold pursuit of sustainable growth by the City of Danville and exceptional partners, like Gresham Smith.  

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