Civic Imagination Meets AI: How Bowling Green is Creatively Preparing for Rapid Growth
Known largely as the country’s sole manufacturer of the Corvette and home of Western Kentucky University (WKU), Bowling Green is also one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Kentucky. Founded in 1798, the city and its surrounding Warren County are projected to double in size to 233,000 by 2050.
To prepare, its leaders are collaborating and adopting new strategies for sustainable and inclusive growth. One initiative, a pilot program called the BG2050 Project (BG2050), uses civic imagination and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a 25-year vision to guide this anticipated growth.
Courtesy of The BG 2050 Project
THE GENESIS OF BG2050
BG2050 began in a rather unassuming way – a coffee meetup organized by Laura Gilbert, a local business owner. This casual gathering brought together key figures like Warren County Judge/Executive Doug Gorman and Sam Ford, co-founder of Innovation Engine and Kentucky to the World Board Chair. They discussed the city's exponential growth, spurred by its economic development and strategic location along the I-65 corridor, a vital artery connecting Nashville, Tennessee, to Louisville, Kentucky.
"We asked ourselves, is this growth going to happen to us or for us?" Ford recalled. "If it's to happen for us, we need to be proactive."
They considered using civic imagination to do something no other city has done. Hence, the BG2050 initiative was born, blending local insights with AI-driven analytics to create a comprehensive strategy for the city's future. The goal is to ensure that this growth benefits all residents while preserving Bowling Green's cultural and environmental essence.
HARNESSING CIVIC IMAGINATION AND AI
Ford, who is also the executive director of AccelerateKY, works with Dr. Sangita Shresthova, the Co-PI of the Civic Imagination Project at University of Southern California to run the Civic Imagination Incubator at WKU. In summer 2023, they held a workshop discussing Bowling Green and Warren County’s future that attracted 30 participants and resulted in a summary report. Ford and Shresthova then engaged with local officials for several months and organized a luncheon to identify eight pillars for BG2050.
“We worked with the community that had begun to form around us, gathering additional vital input and recommendations,” Ford said.
The pillars are Economic Development, Housing, Infrastructure, Public Health, Quality of Life, Storytelling, Talent Development and Tourism. Each pillar was assigned a working group of 10-20 volunteers who met regularly. These teams collaborated, discussing preservation and other topics relevant to the community. The process continues, with most groups meeting consistently.
USING INNOVATION AND AI TO PREPARE FOR A BOOM
Ford’s Innovation Engine was approached by Google Jigsaw and The Computational Democracy Project’s Polis platform to pilot a project for wider public input data to benefit stakeholders, serendipitously aligning with the BG2050 project. They created “What Could BG Be?” the first public pilot of Jigsaw’s new Sensemaking tools. The info gathering website quickly analyzed data directly from the community to predict trends, allowing city planners to make informed decisions about infrastructure, housing, and services.
“We can't create what we haven't imagined, and no one wants to be excluded,” Ford said.
Local businesses and individuals collaborated to create “The Creative Dept.,” a pop-up agency that built What Could BG Be? Courtesy of The BG 2050 Project
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AT THE FOREFRONT
One of the unique aspects of BG2050 is its emphasis on community collaboration. The project actively seeks input from residents to ensure that the city's development aligns with the needs and aspirations of the community. By engaging local citizens in the planning process, the initiative fosters a sense of ownership and guarantees that the voices of Bowling Green's residents are heard. This approach not only builds trust but also creates a more resilient and adaptable urban plan, to ensure a positive and sustainable future for its residents.
“We're ensuring transparency,” Judge Gorman said. “Public opinion shapes decisions, maintaining our community identity.”
Courtesy of The BG 2050 Project
LOOKING AHEAD
Over 33 days, 7,890 residents provided input 1,034,868 times on the future of Warren County on What Could BG Be? The final report is available online and includes 3,940 unique ideas across 12 topics and 70 subtopics.
Later this year, volunteers will use the report to make recommendations to Warren County leadership as they plan for the next 25 years.
“Our expectations are realistic,” Judge Gorman said. “We’re focusing on achievable goals without overspending.”
BG2050 stands as a model for other cities facing similar challenges. By integrating civic imagination with AI, Bowling Green is proactively shaping its future, demonstrating that thoughtful planning and community engagement are key to sustainable urban development. The city and Warren County stand at the forefront of urban innovation, demonstrating how communities can harness technology to shape their destinies.
