By Best Value Schools
DANVILLE, Ky. (June 8, 2017) — Best Value Schools recently named Danville, the home of Centre College, as one of the 30 Most Charming College Town Main Streets.
The selected towns, required to be the home of at least one college, were chosen based on features like walkability, amenities and local events.
This recognition echoes a recent ranking by Southern Living in July 2016, where Danville was ranked No. 6 on a list of the 21 Best College Towns in the South for its beauty and relationship with the College.
“The connection between Danville and Centre is well established from a historical perspective to an individual relationships perspective,” Danville Mayor Mike Perros said. “Certainly our community benefits in untold ways by the presence of Centre, its faculty and students.”
Along Danville’s Main Street, there are a number of shops and restaurants that fill the quaint historic buildings uniting history with the present.
Students are immersed in the downtown area during new student orientation, as Centre sponsors a picnic at Constitution Square called “Delve in Danville.”
“Small groups of students walk downtown, with their upperclass orientation advisor, pointing out local shops, restaurants, banks, churches and so forth—just to help students learn about all that downtown has to offer,” Vice President and Dean of Student Life Randy Hays said.
During this time, students discover places to go when they want a meal off campus or a place to grab a cup of coffee or shop.
“It’s great to have Centre students and downtown in such close proximity to one another,” Hays said.
Downtown has newer places like Plank on Main, where students can join a yoga or cycling class, grab a cup of coffee, a smoothie or lunch. Some of the more established venues include restaurants like Bluegrass Pizza & Pub and Cue on Main.
Centre also has a connection with The Hub Coffee House & Cafe, home of the College bookstore, and where a number of classes occasionally venture off campus to meet in a relaxed atmosphere.
“The downtown area particularly enjoys a commerce relationship with the students, and they provide necessary activity and energy that all downtowns need in order to survive,” Perros said.
Best Value School shared that Danville has worked hard to preserve its downtown and support the local businesses. Learn more about these efforts through the Heart of Danville Main Street Program.
Add Comment