The Lancaster City Council approved the concept design to make the downtown area more pedestrian-friendly. The council also approved preparing construction plans and specifications for the project that adds parking along a median in the middle of the street, creating multi-use spaces, mitigating the heat and wind, and a new streetscape design with new lighting, trees, plantings and other improvements along the boulevard and the side streets. The time and effort put into developing the design is reflected by how well it has been received by the community, said Deputy City Manager Jason Caudle. “We are looking forward to this much anticipated transformation of downtown Lancaster,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “We’re ready for it, our residents are ready for it, and our local businesses are ready for it. It’s not often you have everyone in a community excited about the same thing.” Mark R. Madler