Longwood’s proposed master plan includes powerful concepts and visions not only for the university, but for the entire Farmville community.

We commend the university’s leaders and those involved in crafting the plan for intertwining the success of the town to that of Longwood.

“That, in some ways, is the heart of the entire effort to find ways to link campus, residential areas, downtown Farmville together,” Longwood President W. Taylor Reveley IV said of the plan.

Improving walkability between downtown and Longwood’s campus benefits the entire community — not just the students or the business owners.

Better connecting downtown Farmville to Longwood promotes stronger community ties, which this plan seeks to do.

The plan envisions bold moves and changes both on and off campus: a baseball diamond on West Third Street at the former Buffalo Shook property, a softball diamond at the FACES Food Pantry property on Depot Street, a performing arts center at the existing Bristow Building off of South Main Street and streamlining and enhancing pedestrian safety from downtown to the Moton Museum.

These ideas — notably the ball diamonds downtown — could have long-lasting historic and economic impacts on the entire Farmville community.

Although some of the concepts may not be immediately fully embraced by the community — such as making part of South Main Street from Moton to downtown two lanes or constructing a roundabout at the troubled Oak and High streets and Griffin Boulevard intersection — one that we can all rally around is the plan’s mission to strengthen both Farmville and Longwood University as one community through this plan.