By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - After years of talking about it, Ohio's fastest-growing city has finally adopted a roadmap to revitalize its downtown area.

The plan proposes a pedestrian-friendly area with an entertainment district, an amphitheater with seating cut into a hillside, and a series of small parks.

City Council approved the plan Monday night. It also created a downtown/small business coordinator position to oversee it - the first step in bringing the plan to life in the booming Warren County suburb of nearly 26,000 residents.

"I'm sure some (parts) will be carried out and some will not be carried out," Mayor John McCurley said. "I think that if there is one thing that is true in this resolution, it is that we want our downtown to be vibrant and prosperous."

Poggemeyer Design Group, based in Bowling Green, Ohio, submitted the revitalization plan last year. Some members of the Downtown Mason Association were pleased that the plan was adopted, but are concerned about the impact of a possible thoroughfare being discussed for downtown. The group is hosting a town meeting Thursday at Mason Middle School.

"Those were very, very positive occurrences," association member Bob Slone, of Mason-based Voorhis Slone Welsh Crossland Architects, said of council's actions Monday night. "Now we just have to deal with things that don't agree with the plan."

Downtown revitalization efforts are a trend across Ohio as communities look to restore historic buildings, find small niche businesses and build a sense of character, according to Pauline Eaton, downtown revitalization director with the non-profit Downtown Ohio Inc.

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com