Creating a Plan for Mayfield’s Future

Mayfield Rebuilds Seeks Community Input for Long-Term Plan

MAYFIELD, Ky. – How do you rebuild a city that has lost more than 175 years of its history? That’s the question that residents of Mayfield, Ky., are grappling with seven months after the largest tornado in Kentucky history wrecked much of the city on Dec. 10, 2021.

Mayfield Rebuilds, a group made up of local volunteers committed to helping Mayfield chart a path forward, is helping to find answers. Mayfield business owner and lifelong resident Jill Celaya is leading Mayfield Rebuilds, with help from members representing a wide range of interests and expertise.

“On December 10, all our lives changed, but we are a resilient people,” said Jill Celaya, chair, Mayfield Rebuilds. “We can come together and harness our enthusiasm in the hope of creating a vibrant, thriving community for our children, grandchildren and the generations to come.  Mayfield Rebuilds gives everyone in our area a chance to express our opinions and pull together to direct our future while honoring our past.  Let’s make Mayfield better than it has ever been.”

Focus areas for Mayfield Rebuilds include:

• Business
• Education
• Health/Welfare
• Housing
• Quality of Life/Arts/Recreation
• Rebuild/Design
• Utilities/Transportation

Though Mayfield Rebuilds is an independent organization, its members work closely with the City of Mayfield, and the team of professionals the city has engaged to assist with recovery. Other entities, including Graves County, local businesses and non-profits, are also helping with the process of developing a blueprint for Mayfield’s future. Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Association are providing support as well.

Community’s Role

The process of collecting community input began with a public meeting back in April at Mayfield High School. Residents were asked to bring ideas and suggestions to create a wish list for their community. A second public meeting followed, also at the high school, at which Celaya was introduced as leader of the steering committee that will develop the plan for rebuilding. Ideas submitted at the previous meeting were sorted into the focus areas listed. Chairs and co-chairs were identified for each focus area and community members were recruited to serve on the committees. Each committee has established its own meeting schedule and reports back to the Steering Committee.

Mayfield residents are encouraged to continue participating by attending upcoming public meetings and tracking the group’s progress on its website, mayfieldrebuilds.com.  The next public meeting will be July 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the West Kentucky Community Room, located behind the West Kentucky RECC office at 1218 West Broadway. Mayfield Rebuilds will also have representatives at upcoming events, including the Back- to-School Bash at the Graves County Fairgrounds on July 16 and at the Fancy Farm Picnic on August 6. 

Moving Forward

Mayfield Rebuilds will continue working to identify, review and rank potential projects in several focus areas. As projects are adopted, the Steering Committee will help develop implementation plans, identify funding sources and champion projects. Ultimately, Mayfield Rebuilds will turn over its work to local leaders, helping set the City of Mayfield on the path to reestablishing itself as a place where its citizens can thrive.

Learn More

Go to www.mayfieldrebuilds.com to learn more about Mayfield Rebuilds. To participate, submit a request on the website, attend a public meeting, or submit suggestions in writing to Mayfield Rebuilds, c/o Mayor’s Office, Mayfield City Hall, 211 East Broadway, Mayfield, KY, 42066.