If you love Tryon, great things are about to happen! Certified planner Philip L. Walker, AICP, of Nashville, Tenn. will share his years of experience working with small towns when he comes to Tryon on May 6 and 7 for TRYON: Making a Place – sponsored by the Tryon Downtown Development Association in partnership with the Polk County Community Foundation. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who loves Tryon and is interested in its economic vitality.

“The TDDA Board is very excited to have this opportunity to work with Mr. Walker,” says Wanda May, vice president of TDDA.

The two-day event will unite Walker’s years of education, experience, down-to-earth working style and ability to listen and vision with the people of Tryon at several May 6 small group meetings with stakeholders such as property owners, retailers, community leaders, and nonprofit leaders. These meetings will help to discern downtown’s strengths, challenges and opportunities. Obtaining this input from stakeholders will be critical to Walker as he makes his observations and recommendations.

At the May 7 community-wide gathering at 4 p.m. at the Tryon Fine Arts Center, Walker will share his impressions, insights and discoveries of Tryon and recommend how its people can continue to work together to ensure downtown economic vitality. Afterward, everyone will “Celebrate Downtown Tryon” at an amphitheater party with music featuring Project X.  Food and drink will be available for purchase.

TDDA has worked hard to bring Walker to Tryon. A group of concerned citizens started TDDA in 1994 and incorporated it as a nonprofit in 2000. Over the years it has been responsible for street-scape improvements, flower baskets, benches, extra Christmas decorations, and events and festivals.

“But TDDA does so much more,” says May. “It’s really an economic development organization that partners with the town and with government to recruit successful businesses, preserve and restore historic buildings, provide input to the town and zoning board, collaborate with other nonprofits to promote the Carolina Foothills, and assist businesses with effective merchandising and storefront improvements.

Bringing Walker to town for TRYON: Making a Place on May 6 and 7 is a major step forward toward TDDA’s mission of, “Preserving and enhancing the community of Tryon through a downtown revitalization program that focuses on Economic Restructuring, Streetscape Design and Historic Preservation.”

For information on getting involved with TDDA, email gotdda@gmail.com or call Judd Daniel 828-707-0358, or Wanda May at wkm1970@aol.com or 828-817-5059.

– Written by Duncan Ely