Ekalaka community plan public meeting, Jan. 17th

High Plains Architects, an award-winning architecture and planning firm located in Billings, is currently working on a comprehensive community master plan for the Town of Ekalaka. A public meeting for community feedback will be held at The Carter County Museum on Tuesday, January 17th at 5:30 p.m. Community members and all interested parties are encouraged to attend. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.

Public participation in the planning process is crucial in identifying opportunities and direction for community growth and sustainability. Community members can also engage in the process and view announcements at the Ekalaka Community Plan Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089570312828&mibextid=LQQJ4d. Feedback and comments can be made on the Facebook page or directly to jsanford@highplains.com.

The High Plains project managers visited Ekalaka in November and left impressed with the community's unique rural feel and authenticity and excited about the potential positive impact tourism might have. The end goal of the community master plan is to provide a document and policy guide designed to help Ekalaka define a vision of what the community looks like in the future. This placemaking exercise focuses on adaptive reuse of old buildings, historical preservation, and crafting a strong sense of community identity. This is a transformative opportunity that truly relies on community participation and collaborative conversations. Some of the topics discussed in the meeting will include: addressing housing supply and housing affordability, exploring opportunities for commercial development and office space, and emphasizing and enhancing public spaces.

***This article was updated to show the corrected date of the public meeting. The original press release sent to the Eagle was incorrect. The public meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 17th at 5:30 p.m.