Community Invited to A Week of Events to Shape the Future of Downtown

Published on April 20, 2026

Community Invited to “Design It! Downtown,” A Week of Events to Shape the Future of Downtown

The City of Kalamazoo is inviting residents, businesses, community partners, and anyone who lives, works, or plays downtown to take part in Design It! Downtown, a weeklong series of interactive events focused on experiencing, exploring, and shaping the future of downtown Kalamazoo.

Taking place April 28 through May 4, this dynamic lineup is part of the Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 process and brings together local organizations, national experts, and community voices to reimagine what downtown can be.

From hands-on workshops and walking experiences to panel discussions and open houses, each event offers a unique opportunity to engage with the spaces, ideas, and investments shaping downtown today and what comes next.

“A great downtown doesn’t happen by accident," said Deputy City Manager Rebekah Kik. “It’s shaped by the people who use it every day. This week is an opportunity for our community to come together, share ideas, and help create a downtown that reflects who we are and where we’re going.”

Downtown Kalamazoo is evolving, with new investments and opportunities on the horizon. Design It! Downtown creates space for the community to not only learn about what’s happening, but to directly shape it. By bringing people together to explore how downtown works today, the series aims to build a more vibrant, connected, and welcoming downtown for years to come.