Commission revisits strategic plan, outlines outreach, inventories and Preservation Month programming

At its April 28 meeting the Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission revisited its strategic plan and discussed priorities for volunteer recruitment, a phased building inventory of the Boomtown historic district, and outreach tied to Preservation Month.

Members said the strategic plan (approved earlier in January) contains many initiatives and that the commission should focus on a small number of projects at a time. The chair urged expanding the ‘Friends’ membership, recruiting university students for tasks such as a promotional video or updating audio walking tours, and forming small project teams to tackle items like signage and building inventories.

On inventory work, members proposed starting with a single block or a limited section of Boomtown and using a simple questionnaire so volunteers can gather basic eligibility data without requiring architectural expertise. “Maybe we could designate one side of one block to start with,” the chair said, proposing a pilot approach.

Preservation Month events and outreach were scheduled and promoted: a house-history scavenger hunt (paper and online options) and multiple bike tours managed through BG Pedal, with dates announced for May 9 (1 p.m.), an evening tour on May 20 (7 p.m.), a May 24 pedal tour (1:15 p.m.), and a June 7 east-Clough/windmill tour (1:15 p.m.). The commission will distribute a press release and share registration information (bgpedalcompany.com) and has worked with local schools and the museum to expand participation.

Why it matters: the strategic plan actions and Preservation Month programming are intended to increase public engagement, strengthen volunteer capacity, and create momentum for neighborhood-level preservation work. Members emphasized realistic timelines, volunteer training, and targeted outreach to maximize results.

Next steps: staff and commissioners will recruit volunteers, circulate questionnaires for the inventory pilot, finalize press materials for events, and track interest in facade grants and plaque applications that tie to broader preservation goals.