The Kern Council of Governments in California selected the City of Bakersfield as a recipient of the Regional Award of Merit – Local Government for its work on the “Making Downtown Bakersfield” vision plan. The awards program honors citizens, community-based organizations, and public officials in Kern County, California who have made significant contributions to the region’s quality of life. The awards ceremony will be held on March 7th, 2019 at the Seven Oaks Country Club Ballroom in Bakersfield.
As one of the cities along California’s new High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridor, Bakersfield is anticipating significant growth. To help the city leverage this opportunity, SOM worked closely with local public officials to develop the “Making Downtown Bakersfield” vision plan. The plan is a comprehensive urban design strategy that integrates the HSR station into the existing city fabric, expands connectivity across transportation modes, and supports equitable economic development throughout the region. The plan was developed in collaboration with the community through an intensive and dynamic public outreach and engagement process.