UGA Student Working With City of Toccoa

Leaders in Toccoa are collaborating with a University of Georgia landscape architecture student on downtown improvement projects this summer through the school’s Downtown Renaissance Fellowship.

UGA landscape architecture student Megan Hull was selected to work with the city and Institute of Government faculty on summer-long projects like streetscape improvements, park and green space planning, and corridor entrance design.

Hull is working alongside the Toccoa Planning Department on landscape designs and signage for downtown parks.

She is also working with city administrators on gateway designs and signage for the municipal golf course.

This effort is a ten-week partnership among the cities, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the UGA College of Environment and Design, and the Georgia Municipal Association.

Toccoa is one of three cities involved in the program this summer.

The others are Chamblee and Statesboro.

According to UGA officials, the three cities are covering half of the costs of the fellowship, with the Georgia Municipal Association is providing the remaining financial support through its Georgia Cities Foundation.

Institute of Government faculty member and downtown development specialist Danny Bivins is coordinating the program.

Bivins said the participating cities get assistance on downtown improvement initiatives while the students benefit by getting the opportunity to work on real-life projects.