More green space, fewer cars are “visions” for 20 years in La Crosse’s future

Imagine that you’ve won the lottery. You leave La Crosse for 20 years, and then return in 2041 to see how the town has changed.

What would you find?

“The downtown area is walk, and bike, and bus only. We have a lot of bike lanes throughout the city … multi-lingual signage all over town that celebrates our many different cultures.”

That’s how Lewis Kuhlman, at the city planning office, described some of the future “visions” offered during a Tuesday workshop at the Black River Neighborhood Center.

City council members and the city plan commission met to predict how La Crosse might look years into the future.

Ideas on housing, transportation and green space will be reviewed, to help them develop a comprehensive plan for the next 10-20 years.

Other ideas suggested, by people who imagined writing post cards from La Crosse in 2041, described a downtown where things are closer together, children walk to school and there are programs to help “unsheltered” people.

Sustainability, solar power and definitely fewer cars were mentioned frequently during the workshop.

A similar workshop is planned again, about a month from now.