$80k study to enhance Greater Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - It took nearly $80,000 and about a year. A plan for making the Greater Lafayette area go from good to great is finally here.

Experts said these goals could be the answer to improving the community's 'Quality of Life' for current and future generations.

There are eight different goals. Everything from sprucing up downtown, to keeping young professionals in the area and making the Greater Lafayette area more 'green.'

"What are we doing with our green inititiave," owner of Next Generation Consulting, Rebecca Ryan, said. "How can we take these clusters of things that are happening at Ivy Tech and Purdue and many of your companies, like Subaru, and smash that accelerator down a little more?" Ryan asked.

Another goal in the plan to make the Greater Lafayette area go from good to great is sprucing up the pedestrian bridge and making it a 'place to be.'

"What if it was truly dominated by pedestrians, dominated by bikes," Ryan said. "Even small things over the bridge like putting up pergolas so there is some shade, and putting benches so you can go and sit."

But the list of goals doesn't stop there. It extends to Purdue where experts said another goal is to get students involved in the community and make it their 'home' while studying away from 'home.'

"Helping make sure that the neighborhoods look beautiful," Ryan said. "It makes the residents and long-time residents of the community so happy to know that they and the students are all working together to make the Purdue neighborhood livable and amazing."

The plan was revealed Tuesday at a Rotary Club meeting.

The Greater Lafayette Commerce voted Tuesday afternoon on a council made up of about 25 people who will then develop committees to take the next step in reaching the goals.

For a full list of the goals, a copy of the plan and more information about the study, click here .