New to Imagine Kalamazoo? Start Here!
Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 (IK 2035) is a community-driven planning process that will guide Kalamazoo’s priorities, investments, and decisions for the next decade. At its core, IK 2035 asks two big questions:
- What kind of community do we want to become?
- What steps do we need to take to get there?
The answers to those questions become two important documents: the Strategic Vision and the Master Plan.
Strategic Vision vs. Master Plan: What's the Difference?
Kalamazoo's Strategic Vision defines what the community wants for the future. It outlines shared goals, guiding principles, and long-term outcomes, things like economic opportunity, sustainable neighborhoods, accessible services, and vibrant public spaces. Think of it as the destination.
The Master Plan is the roadmap for getting there. It turns the vision into action by outlining specific strategies, policies, investments, and design approaches. The Master Plan guides decisions about housing, transportation, parks, economic development, sustainability, neighborhood growth, and more. Think of it as the how.
Together, the Strategic Vision and Master Plan shape projects, programs, and city decisions for years to come.
How The Planning Process Works
Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 happens in phases, each building on the last:
- Imagine It!: Residents shared big ideas about what makes a happy, healthy, and thriving city. This phase focused on listening and understanding community hopes and aspirations.
- Plan It!: Community members helped refine those ideas into clearer goals and outcomes. This input shaped the draft Strategic Vision, and the draft document was presented the City Commission after this step was concluded.
- Design It!: This phase focuses on moving from ideas to action. Through neighborhood meetings and online activities, residents help identify practical strategies and neighborhood-level solutions. This input directly informs the Master Plan.
- Draft It!/Adopt It!: In these phases, staff take all of the input from the process to create a draft Master Plan. It's shared for community review and confirmation, and ultimately presented to the Planning Commission and City Commission for adoption
Each phase deepens the conversation, from big-picture vision to concrete next steps and an actionable plan.
Why It Matters
If you live, work, or spend time in Kalamazoo, this plan affects you. The Master Plan influences how neighborhoods grow, how streets function, where housing is built, how parks are improved, and how economic opportunity expands.
Participating ensures the plan reflects real community experiences, not just assumptions. The Master Plan guides city budgets, projects, and programs for the next 10 years. Have your voice included is important!
Imagine Kalamazoo 2025
Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 builds on the success of Imagine Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 (IK 2025), launched in 2015. That process set a new standard for community engagement in Kalamazoo and led to meaningful investments in housing, parks, transportation, sustainability, and economic development.
More than 95% of the actions identify in the Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 Master Plan have been completed or are currently in progress!
IK 2035 continues that momentum, looking ahead to the next chapter.
How Can You Get Involved?
- Attend community meetings and share your ideas.
- Join discussions online or at pop-up events.
- Read Happy City by Charles Montgomery and participate in community book discussions.
- Host your own conversation with friends or neighbors using the “Meetings on the Go” toolkit.
Imagine Kalamazoo isn’t just a plan or a document; it’s a shared effort to shape a future that reflects our community’s values and priorities. And it starts with your voice. Let’s build Kalamazoo’s future together.