Collierville’s "Design Week" provided a high-energy platform for residents to help shape the next 25 years of our Town for the Collierville 2050 Comprehensive Plan. 

The Keynote: Small Changes, Big Impact

Urban planner Tristan Cleveland kicked off the week at the Collierville High School Auditorium, focusing on how to develop complete communities by balancing walkability in car-centered environments. Cleveland emphasized that a town’s long-term success often depends on incremental progress rather than "mega-projects." 

"The cumulative impact of 100 small changes over time is much greater than one mega project... so often cities make a big investment, then a little investment years later, and in between you have the valley of neglect. If you really want your town to succeed, think about what are those small, low-cost investments that you can make every single year?" — Tristan Cleveland

Cleveland used real-world examples to show how Collierville could revitalize underutilized spaces, such as Tom Brooks Park or the Historic High School Auditorium, to expand a more vibrant, downtown street life without losing our unique character.

View the full presentation here:

The Design Charrette: Hands on Feedback from the Community

Following the keynote, our consultants from Freese and Nichols hosted a three-day "Design Charrette" at Carriage Crossing. This pop-in workshop allowed residents to directly influence four key areas:

1. Future Growth Scenarios - Residents used dot-voting to signal their preferences for the Town’s expansion.

• Results: Feedback was evenly split between Moderate and Significant Growth.

• Priorities: The community voiced a strong interest in measured growth that protects our "preservation ethic" while addressing the need for housing affordability for young families and essential workers.

2. Town Square & Downtown Evolution - While residents love the Square's historic character, they identified several small changes that would have a major impact:

• Pedestrian Safety: Strong desire for improved sidewalks, safer railroad crossings, and better parking wayfinding.
  
  
• Ground-Floor Usage: A preference for active retail and dining over office space to keep the area vibrant. 

3. Carriage Crossing & Youth Engagement - Thirty Collierville High School students participated in a special workshop to envision the future of Carriage Crossing. 

• Destination Vibe: Students suggested bold ideas like a drive-in movie area or parks to turn underutilized parking into gathering spaces. 
  
  
• Social Hubs: Both students and adults called for more low family gathering spaces and entertainment options. 

4. Transportation Visioning - Connectivity emerged as a top community value. 

• Top Priorities:
  • Trails and Greenways
  • Maintaining and Improving Existing Roads
  • Connected Sidewalks (emphasis near schools and parks.)
• Street Design: Strong support for buffered bike facilities, roundabouts, and traffic calming features to improve safety. 

Pictured: Residents and consultants having conversation and discussing ideas at the Design Charrette at Carriage Crossing.

 The Big Reveal: A Blueprint for the Future

Design Week concluded with a presentation at Town Hall on May 14, where consultants recapped the above results of the charrette activities. Community & Economic Development Director Michael Clark noted that the consultants were "very happy with not only the turnout, but the depth of information received." 

This feedback is now being synthesized into the official Collierville 2050 proposal. After further engagement this fall, the plan will be considered for formal adoption in early 2027. Once adopted, it will serve as the consistency statement for all future development decisions in the Town. 

Stay involved at colliervilletn.gov/GetOnBoard.