City of Rifle Strategic Plan: A Connected Downtown for Everyday Community Life

In partnership with the City of Rifle, and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs as a technical assistance provider -EJD+P led a focused strategic planning process to define a clear, actionable Path for strengthening downtown as the heart of community life. With one of the youngest populations in the state, a high percentage of commuting households, and a growing number of families, Rifle is at a critical moment to invest in places and systems that support daily life, with an average age of 32 and shift to 48% latino population and an estimated 60% outbound commuter rate- Rifle is at a transition point, that it must address for its long term sucess as a communiy.

Through a collaborative workshop with City staff, elected officials, and key boards, the process aligned around four core priorities: connecting downtown to surrounding neighborhoods and natural assets, creating a “community living room” with welcoming public spaces, supporting families and youth, and strengthening local jobs and small businesses.

The final plan delivers a set of high-impact, implementable projects, from a downtown civic spine and community plaza at Rifle Creek to family-centered spaces, small business support strategies, and cultural bridge-building initiatives. Each project is paired with clear roles, partners, and near-term actions, giving the City a practical roadmap to move from vision to implementation.

This work positions downtown Rifle as a place where locals gather, families thrive, and community is built every day.