A community’s comprehensive plan can be more than a wish list. It can be a vision around which citizens, school officials, local business and government officials can rally in the hope of a progressive future. The village of Lynchburg now has such a plan.

The first such document to be prepared in the community’s long history, Lynchburg’s comprehensive plan offers an attractive picture of what the village can become. There are no aspirations of landing a factory that will hire hundreds. The challenges the community faces are not ignored. Rather, the plan is a realistic document that builds on Lynchburg’s current assets and bedroom-community atmosphere to lay out a vision for development and improvement. Authored by Chris Schock, executive director of the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission, and David Alpern, staff consultant at the University of Cincinnati School of Planning, the plan is a cooperative effort of Lynchburg village and school officials, Highland and Clinton county officials, and several of the village’s citizens.

Fourteen local residents who attended an open house responded to a survey to help in the preparation of the comprehensive plan. Their responses indicate that economic development, appearances of the town, and a wider diversity of services are challenges Lynchburg faces.

To its credit, the plan does not try to address too much. Rather, it focuses on suggested improvements to Main Street and the park system. The plan suggests ways to improve traffic flow, parking and the aesthetic appearance of Main Street. Trees and decorative lighting are relatively inexpensive ways to improve the appearance of the town’s main artery and business district. Vacancy of lots and buildings is a problem on Main Street USA, not only in Lynchburg. Of course, efforts should be made to eliminate or, at least, reduce vacancies, but that is a more complex and potentially expensive problem, especially in the current economic environment.

We are especially intrigued by the plan’s ambitious suggestion to expand and connect the community’s parks. That involves improving existing park facilities and developing new park areas, resulting in a connected park system through the town. The plan’s authors correctly point out that such a unified park system would be unique in the region. The endeavor would require a commitment of resources to construct and maintain an expanded park system, but the plan is correct that the return on that investment could be substantial.

Realizing the vision of the comprehensive plan will require both public and private funds. The village wisely has applied for a NatureWorks grant to do improvements to parkland near the covered bridge and stream. Because Lynchburg straddles the Clinton-Highland county line, officials in both counties should work cooperatively with Lynchburg government and business leaders, civic groups and citizens to assist the town in acquiring grants and other forms of government assistance.

The comprehensive plan for Lynchburg is a vision for the future that can reap real benefits. Development can enhance the quality of life in the village. Doing that will attract more people interested in making Lynchburg their home and the place to raise their families. That will make the village more attractive for new business and increase property values.

We encourage village officials to maintain their commitment to improving Lynchburg, and urge more community citizens to join in the effort to make their town a better place to live.