Two of Dowagiac’s most treasured assets could become even more valuable in the coming years.

The City of Dowagiac laid the groundwork for potential improvements and additions to its downtown and parks this week. The Dowagiac City Council authorized agreements with two firms on Monday to assist the city in developing long-term plans for both of these resources.

“Over the last several months, city council has started to take a hard look at the kinds of planning we need to do to look towards the next 20 years,” said City Manager Kevin Anderson. “We’ll start with downtown. It’s seen a tremendous revival over the last 25 years, in part due to some planning and direction at the front end, then steadily implementing that plan over a long period of time.”

The city is hiring Ann Arbor-based Smith Group JJR to assist leadership in the downtown planning process, which will cost just shy of $20,000 to complete, Anderson said. The funding for the project will come from the city’s economic development funds.

“They have worked for small communities and large communities throughout the nation,” Anderson said. “They’ll look at the economics and vitalities and make some recommendations for us on the things that can go in the downtown. We’ll look at the surrounding neighborhoods and make some recommendations there as well.”

Anderson said this planning process will take around six months to complete, and will include public input alongside advice from the firm.

“It’s a real good time for us, given the level of activity and interest we’ve seen there,” Anderson said.

The city will also be working with engineers with Wightman & Associates to come with plans for two pieces of city property: the recently acquired lot at 101 Cass Avenue and Rudy Park, which is located near the mill pond across from Heddon Park. The city will pay the firm $9,600 to help develop conceptual plans for both locations.

In the case of the Cass Avenue property, the city is hoping to transform the space into an extension the city’s existing trail system in Rudolphi Woods and Riverside Cemetery.

“The first step we need to do in the development of that as park is to layout what should go in it and how it should be used,” Anderson said. “It’s a great waterfront piece, and it needs some cleanup to it.”

For the existing Rudy Park, though, officials are considering expanding on its current grounds, including the installation of a small parking lot and a bridge crossing the pond.

“We sometimes refer to it as a drive-by park,” Anderson said. “There’s no spot where people can get off the road safely to enjoy it. There’s also a tremendous water amenity there, where a lot of fishing goes on.”

Both Mayor Don Lyons and Mayor Pro Tem Leon Laylin expressed support for the resolutions before the other members of the voted on them.

“These types of professional studies are critical when it comes time for applying for and getting grants,” said Mayor Don Lyons. “You’ll get that money back many times over, besides just leaving some guidance for future generations.”