Community members are invited to help create design concepts for the future of State Street and the surrounding downtown area during workshops offered by the city of Santa Barbara, Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10 at 821 State St.

“We hope you will join us in creating designs for State Street,” said Tess Harris, State Street master planner. “This is an exciting celebration of downtown and opportunity for the community to help shape Santa Barbara’s future and learn more about the State Street Master Plan.”

Participants will be grouped into small teams to design two or three blocks on State Street using a map of the street and game pieces that reflect potential transportation options and activities that could be included in the long-term design for State Street.

Each team’s design poster will be hung at the location and be available for viewing during the Open House on Dec. 10. Each workshop will include a brief project update and time to view other teams’ designs.

All events will include the same activities and be offered in English and Spanish. No professional design experience is required to participate in any of these events, and all community members are welcome.

“We are really excited to make this an event for everyone,” Harris said. “The Learningden Preschool staff will be onsite to provide childcare to children 18 months and older so that parents and caregivers can fully participate in the workshop.

“Come see the pop-up art show that The Arts Fund and the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture are putting on during the workshop events focused on creativity and innovation. It is sure to be a hit.”

More about the community design workshops is available under “Events” at StateStreet.SantaBarbaraCA.gov. Additionally, the city encourages everyone to take the State Street survey and share their thoughts about what they would want to see downtown in the future.

For more information, contact Harris at StateStreetMasterPlan@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.