March 4th, 2025
Chestertown‬‭ MD‬‭

Main‬‭ Street‬‭ Chestertown‬‭ is‬‭ proud‬‭ to‬‭ announce‬‭ the‬‭ public‬‭ release‬‭ of‬‭ its‬‭ highly‬‭ anticipated‬ Downtown‬‭ Master‬‭ Plan‬‭ Phase‬‭ 1,‬‭ a‬‭ comprehensive‬‭ vision‬‭ designed‬‭ to‬‭ guide‬‭ the‬‭ future‬‭ growth,‬‭ revitalization,‬ and economic development of the downtown district.‬

Developed‬‭ through‬‭ extensive‬‭ community‬‭ engagement,‬‭ stakeholder‬‭ input,‬‭ and‬‭ expert‬‭ analysis‬‭ provided‬‭ by‬ Design‬‭ Collective,‬‭ Inc,‬‭ an‬‭ award-winning‬‭ design‬‭ firm‬‭ specializing‬‭ in‬‭ community‬‭ master‬‭ plans,‬‭ the‬‭ Downtown‬ Master‬‭ Plan‬‭ serves‬‭ as‬‭ a‬‭ roadmap‬‭ for‬‭ sustainable‬‭ development,‬‭ improved‬‭ public‬‭ spaces,‬‭ and‬‭ enhanced‬ systems‬‭ designed‬‭ to‬‭ preserve‬‭ the‬‭ town’s‬‭ historic‬‭ charm‬‭ while‬‭ addressing‬‭ critical‬‭ concerns‬‭ such‬‭ as‬ stormwater management and aging infrastructure.‬

“The‬‭ Downtown‬‭ Master‬‭ Plan‬‭ is‬‭ a‬‭ reflection‬‭ of‬‭ our‬‭ community’s‬‭ collective‬‭ vision‬‭ for‬‭ a‬‭ thriving,‬‭ dynamic,‬‭ and‬ inclusive‬‭ town‬‭ center,” said‬‭ Kristen‬‭ Owen,‬‭ Main‬‭ Street‬‭ Board‬‭ President,‬ “We‬‭ collaborated‬‭ closely‬‭ with‬‭ the‬ Town‬‭ on‬‭ this‬‭ initiative‬‭ to‬‭ ensure‬‭ our‬‭ efforts‬‭ align‬‭ with‬‭ their‬‭ priorities.‬‭ Together,‬‭ we’re‬‭ laying‬‭ the‬‭ foundation‬‭ for‬ a prosperous future.”

‭ Key‬‭ elements‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ plan‬‭ include:‬‭ Gateways‬‭ and‬‭ Arrival‬‭ Points;‬‭ Enhancing‬‭ Open‬‭ Spaces;‬‭ Expanding‬ Walkability‬‭ and‬‭ Bike-ability;‬‭ Improving‬‭ Streetscape‬‭ Aesthetics;‬‭ Opportunity‬‭ Sites‬‭ for‬‭ Private‬‭ Development;‬ Upgrades to Infrastructure; and Coastal Resiliency.‬

‭The‬‭ Phase‬‭ 1‬‭ document‬‭ is‬‭ the‬‭ first‬‭ of‬‭ three‬‭ phases.‬‭ It‬‭ encompasses‬‭ the‬‭ visioning,‬‭ planning,‬‭ and‬‭ prioritizing‬‭ of‬ key‬‭ recommendations.‬‭ Phase‬‭ 2‬‭ will‬‭ include‬‭ engineering‬‭ and‬‭ design‬‭ of‬‭ priority‬‭ projects,‬‭ as‬‭ well‬‭ as‬‭ efforts‬‭ to‬ secure funding. Phase 3 will see projects enter into implementation.‬

‭ Paul‬‭ Heckles,‬‭ chair‬‭ of‬‭ Main‬‭ Street‬‭ Chestertown’s‬‭ Master‬‭ Plan‬‭ Committee‬‭ stated,‬‭ “We‬‭ expect‬‭ this‬‭ is‬‭ a‬‭ five-to‬ ten-year‬‭ initiative.‬‭ Many‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ recommendations‬‭ are‬‭ significant‬‭ projects‬‭ requiring‬‭ extensive‬‭ engineering‬‭ and‬ funding, but we’re excited to share the plan with the public and get started on Phase 2.”

‭The Downtown Master Plan is available for public view at MainStreetChestertown.org/phase-one.‬ Main‬‭ Street‬‭ Chestertown‬‭ is‬‭ a‬‭ 501(c)3‬‭ charitable‬‭ organization‬‭ dedicated‬‭ to‬‭ fostering‬‭ an‬‭ inviting,‬‭ diverse,‬‭ and‬ prosperous downtown. It is one of 34 designated Main Street Maryland communities.‬