DAYTON — Premier Health and the University of Dayton have selected an Ohio-based master planning firm, planning NEXT, to develop a community-minded vision for 38 acres on South Main Street, the former home of the Montgomery County fairgrounds.

In coming months, the planning process for transforming the property – “Fairgrounds to Future: Transforming for Tomorrow” – will yield opportunities for meaningful input from individuals, community groups and other stakeholders. One opportunity for public input will be an interactive workshop, to be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 2 at the former fairgrounds. The workshop also will be an occasion for representatives of both institutions and planning NEXT to share details of the five-month planning process.

A second workshop is planned for early 2018, with a goal to complete the master plan by spring.

“Redeveloping this 38 acres is a rare opportunity to advance the community-minded missions of both Premier Health and the University of Dayton in a meaningful way on the doorstep of downtown Dayton,” said Mary Boosalis, president and CEO of Premier Health. “Our work with planning NEXT will be deliberate, thoughtful, and inclusive, and we also intend to move with speed so that this property can reinforce the momentum of revitalization efforts in the city’s core.”

The public also will be able to share thoughts about the property’s future through a new interactive website: fairgroundstofuture.org.

“This property served as a community destination for more than 160 years as home to the Montgomery County fairgrounds,” said Eric F. Spina, president of the University of Dayton. “As anchor institutions, we’re committed to working with planning NEXT to build upon our missions and values in a way that ensures this property continues to offer a strong, authentic sense of place and serve broad community interests.”

planning NEXT was chosen from several planning teams based upon its track record of public engagement, innovative urban design, economic strategy and analysis, and ability to craft a space that supports and complements culturally rich communities. The firm was carefully vetted, and was selected from a field of 10 teams with expertise in world-class urban design, planning, architecture, real estate and economic development.