The City of Menomonie just can't sit still while Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire are formulating and executing plots to improve their downtown areas. So Menomonie has taken up arms (er, pens, paper, ideas, spreadsheets, ect.) to improve their downtown too.

Downtown renovation ideas for Menomonie are going the direction of two. With hopes to increase two wheeled and two legged traffic (sorrym three-legged citizens), ideas for its revitalization are geared to promote more bicycles and pedestrian traffic. During a few public input meetings, officials received a wide range of ideas. Renovation has been spearheaded by group of community stakeholders, and fundng has been capped at $109,000 by city officials. Contracting firm LHB of Minneapolis, has plans to make final design and planning recommendations in early 2011. According to the Leader Telegram ...

• In addition to increasing bicycle and pedestrian traffic, meeting participants came up with other ideas for downtown, such as developing microbusinesses, transforming large retail spaces into smaller ones and erecting a bakery. Still other ideas were to emphasize downtown's architectural history, provide walking areas and create a children's museum.
• Michael Schroeder, LHB's director of urban design and planning, said the firm is scheduled to make its final recommendations in early 2011. He noted a desire to change attitudes about downtown, making it a source of city pride.

Unfortunately Menomonie looks unable to get their very own Naked Cowboy to dance in the street wearing only a cowboy hat, underwear, a guitar, and a smile. The concept has worked wonders for other downtown areas – I'm positive this would make downtown Menomonie the best in the Midwest. But if city officials want to focus on "businesses," so be it.