Arts and Economic Prosperity Report

Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations, their Audiences, and Individual Artists in the Greater Paducah Area.     Full Report     One Page Summary     Pamphlet Insert   

Comprehensive Plan

In 2007, the City of Paducah completed a major update of the Comprehensive Plan. This plan is a document required by Kentucky state law.  It serves as a road map for the future of the community and should guide decisions on all levels of government.  Click on Comprehensive Plan to download the plan.  On October 20, 2009, a draft of a Sidewalk Plan was presented to the City Commission.  The draft will then be submitted to the Planning Commission before returning to the City Commission for final approval.

Economic Development

The City of Paducah assists with various economic development projects.  Economic development in this sense includes governmental, industrial, commercial, or residential properties.  We provide support to sister agencies such as Paducah Economic Development,   EntrePaducah,   Chamber of Commerce, or individual developers.  Assistance could be in form of mapping, planning and zoning research, development incentives, or any other need a client may have.  For government-related projects, assistance is provided with grant writing, site layout, or possible property acquisition.

Property Acquisition:  From time to time there arises a need for property acquisition.  There are generally two types: eminent domain for public purposes or voluntary sale of real estate.  Eminent domain is used in cases such as acquiring property to make a public green way (hike and bike path) connection or other public project purpose.  Acquisition by voluntary sale is usually done through the Urban Renewal and Community Development Board.  In these cases, the city contacts the property owner and negotiates a sale price just as you would a normal person-to-person private sale.  An example of this type of acquisition would be what has taken place in the LowerTown area.

Fountain Avenue Neighborhood Plan and Incentives 

The Fountain Avenue Neighborhood Plan was approved by the City Commission in April 2007 with the official groundbreaking on December 18, 2007.  To download a copy of the plan and to find out more about how to become a resident of Fountain Avenue, please visit the Fountain Avenue website.  On this website you will find a list of lots and homes that are available for purchase.

Government Reorganization Study

The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce started a 12-member task force in 2004 to study reorganizing and unifying the governments of Paducah-McCracken County.  The results of the study were presented in July 2008.  Click News Release for a summary of the report.  Click Government Reorganization to view the 2.1 MB report from the task force.

LowerTown Plan

This is an international award winning neighborhood plan that has received many accolades for its content as well as the innovative tool called the Paducah Artist Relocation Program.  Click LowerTown Artist Relocation Program for a copy of the plan or find out more information. 

Olivet Church Road Project

The City of Paducah, McCracken County, and the State of Kentucky are working together to make major improvements along Olivet Church Road (KY 998).  Increased traffic and and new developments around the Kentucky Oaks Mall have created the need for road improvements and access along and near Olivet Church Road.  For more information, click Olivet Church Road Project.

Parks Master Plan

The City is in the process of updating its Parks Master Plan.  To read the plan from a few years ago that is still being used click Parks Master Plan.

Renaissance Area Master Plan

The Paducah Riverfront Development Authority engaged a multi-disciplinary planning, design, and market assessment team to develop the Renaissance Area Master Plan (RAMP) for downtown Paducah.  The RAMP was funded by a Preserve America grant through the National Park Service that included a match from the City of Paducah.  This initiative - covering the historic downtown core, the riverfront, and LowerTown - was designed with its primary mission to better link these three areas, in order to improve the market for each. The PRDA stressed this in its major outcome of the RAMP: "It is important to the City to create a way for cultural and natural heritage tourists to be able to reach these three areas without interruption in order to be able to have a pleasant experience viewing and interacting with Paducah’s cultural and natural localities." The RAMP is a comprehensive document that will be used as guidance for years to come.  To read the entire RAMP, click Renaissance Area Master Plan.

Riverfront Master Plan

Redevelopment of Paducah's riverfront is a high priority of the City Commission and the Engineering and Planning Departments.  The City has completed the Riverfront Master Plan and is now in the engineering/design and permitting of Phase I.  Construction of a new boat ramp and transient docking facility is expected to begin in the summer of '08.   Click Riverfront Master Plan to learn how you may help us build the future of this important resource.  

A public meeting was held March 10, 2010  at City Hall for the first phase of the riverfront project.  --News Release--     --Meeting Video--     --Environmental Assessment Document (Nov. 2009)--     

Strategic Plan  

Click Strategic Plan for Paducah to read an Executive Summary of the Guiding Principles, Goals and Objectives, Vision, and Mission approved by the City Commission.  

Transportation Planning

In 2002, Paducah/McCracken county completed the Paducah/McCracken County Transportation Study compiled by Jordan, Jones, & Goulding.  Click Transportation Plan to learn more.

The state of Kentucky has a uniform planning process for transportation projects that consists of the 6-year Plan and the Unscheduled Projects List.  The planning documents are administered by regional planning agencies called Area Development Districts.  Paducah is part of the Purchase Area Development District (PADD).