Creative Placemaking in Action: Help Design the Lyons Arts Exchange | Community Visioning Night

A Hands-on Community Visioning Night & Design Charette
Wednesday, June 24 | 4:30 - 6 pm
Community Room | Lyons Regional Library | Free Event
Join the Lyons Creative District for an interactive community engagement and design charrette as we begin building the vision for the Lyons Arts Exchange - a reimagined creative hub transforming the former Visitor Center in Sandstone Park into a vibrant space for public art, creative retail, artist opportunities, community resources, and collaborative projects in partnership with the Town of Lyons.
This free community-driven event invites residents, artists, business owners, creatives, and community members to help imagine what this space can become and how it can best serve the Lyons community for years to come.
Evening Agenda
4:30 PM | Creative Placemaking Presentation
Learn about the power of creative placemaking and how communities have transformed underutilized spaces into thriving cultural assets. We will share inspiring examples, best practices, and ideas relevant to the future of the Lyons Arts Exchange.
4:45 PM | Site Tour & Project Overview
Take a guided walk-through of the former Visitor Center and surrounding park area to better understand the opportunities and co-imagine the possibilities for the space and the future.
5:00 PM | Community Design Charette
Participants will break into collaborative design groups focused on:
Programming & Community Use Ideas
Interior Design & Space Activation
Exterior Design, Public Art & Sandstone Park Connections
Each group will explore a design challenge, brainstorm ideas, sketch concepts, and develop recommendations using interactive planning materials.
5:30 PM | Group Presentations & Community Discussion
Working groups will share their ideas with the larger community, helping build a collective vision for the future of the Lyons Arts Exchange.
Why Participate?
Your ideas, experiences, and creativity are essential to creating a space that reflects the character, culture, and aspirations of Lyons. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, volunteer, neighbor, or simply passionate about the future of our community, we invite you to help shape this exciting new chapter. Let's imagine what's possible!