Design

Back to

Design

Creating a safe, inviting atmosphere for shoppers, workers, and visitors through attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, alley clean up and development, colorful banners, street furniture, sidewalks, street lights, signs, and landscaping to convey a positive visual image about what our downtown has to offer. Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the district’s physical appearance through rehabilitation of historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, educating business and property owners about design quality, and long-term planning.

Murals

As downtown beautification progressed, murals became a large part of our scenic landscape.

Download a digital version of our Mural Walking Tour Guide here!

Downtown Holiday Lights

The Downtown Holiday Lights project has been a major Design Committee initiative since 2022, with the goal of installing RGB (red, green, blue) lights to illuminate the skyline of every building across downtown.

Want to help the cause? Attend Boos and Brews fundraiser or simply donate here!

Statues

Our signature fiberglass “JC” statues were created in collaboration with the senior mechanical engineering class at KSU–Salina. All nine statues are now proudly displayed throughout our downtown!

Download a digital version of our JC Statues Walking Tour Guide here!

Building Façade Program

Junction City Main Street offers a Façade Grant Program for businesses located in the downtown district to encourage improvements to building appearances. The program is offered as funding allows, and we encourage all businesses to continually look for ways to enhance their storefronts.

Applications open July 6, 2026, and will remain open until all available funds have been awarded. Priority consideration will be given to buildings that have not previously received funding.

Click here for the application

Design Guidelines

Being a historic downtown means our district holds significant cultural and architectural value that we strive to preserve. Following Kansas Main Street guidelines ensures improvements honor that history, maintain authenticity, and align with preservation standards that protect our unique character.

View the Main Street America Design Guidelines
Sign Permit for City of Junction City
Policy & Procedure for Hanging Pole Banners
Pole Banner Installation Request

Arts District

For years, Junction City envisioned 7th Street between Washington and Jefferson as an Arts District, home to the historic C.L. Hoover Opera House, antique shops, line dancing, a record store, and the city’s original library. In 2024, the Design Committee turned that vision into reality.

Arts District Proclamation

Activated Alleyways

On September 13th, 2024, Junction City Main Street was proudly announced as a recipient of the T-Mobile Hometown Grant. Out of 683 submissions, we were honored to be one of just 25 communities selected for this round.

Through T-Mobile’s Hometown grant JC Main Street activated three alleyways. An activated alleyway is a space that is thoughtfully designed to engage the community and enhance the urban environment. Common features of activated alleyways include public art installations like murals or sculptures that bring color and creativity to the space, as well as decorative lighting.

The Mural Mania Alleyway has been outfitted with temporary bollards to easily close down the alleyway for events. Interested in hosting an event in the Mural Mania Alleyway? Email events@junctioncitymainstreet.org. Our Events Coordinator will outline the process to use the space.

The locations of the three activated alleyways are as follows:

Pedestrian alleyway between Polished Nail Salon (109 W 7th St.) and Pender Law Firm (111 W 7th St.)
Mural Mania Alleyway located between Flint & Vine (714 N Washington St.) and The Spot Karaoke (716 N Washington St.)
Light Display located between 713 N Washington St. and 715 N Washington St.

If you would like to reserve the “Mural Mania” Alleyway, located between 714 and 716 N. Washington Street, please submit a Special Event Permit to the City of Junction City Codes Department: Junction City, KS | Public Portal

Design Committee

Rod Walters– Committee Co- Chair, Volunteer
Nate Brookshire– Committee Co- Chair, Retired Military
Shawn Chauncey – C&C Construction

Ray Ibarra – Director, Public Works
Bruce McMillan – Architect, AIA Architects PA
Jeremiah Johnson – Electrician

Josh Gray – Director, Junction City Parks and Recreation
Shelly Picking – Deputy Director, Junction City Parks and Recreation
Otisha Fernandez– City Planning Student at K- State University

Design

Design

Murals

Downtown Holiday Lights

Statues

Building Façade Program

Design Guidelines

Arts District

Activated Alleyways

Design Committee

About Junction City Main Street

Contact Us

Follow Us

Get Involved