Provo City is asking for suggestions on revitalizing its downtown district. We're glad to help, and offer a miscellaneous assortment of ideas.

• Build on strengths the city already has. Cities spend millions to create charming neighborhoods with little stores and tree-shaded streets. Provo already has all that. It should make its top priority preserving and renewing the core, whose center lies at the intersection of University Avenue and Center Street.

Would anyone consider doing otherwise? Sadly, yes. If you doubt that, stop by the Hotel Roberts or the classic mission-style Catholic church, St. Francis of Assisi.

Another strength of Provo is its role as the county seat. The city must cooperate in making sure a redevelopment plan includes accommodating the growth of county offices.

• Involve and execute. The city, as well as county government, businesses, residents and other stakeholders need to be involved in making a clear plan. The Provo City Redevelopment Agency is now holding meetings and gathering ideas. A long view is needed, at least 15 years out, and a plan should be developed in as much detail as possible.

Good execution of the plan is essential. Relevant agencies, especially municipal ones, need to be decisive and cut red tape. Provo should do its utmost to expedite worthy projects. At times, city officials have appeared unsure of what to do next, and bureaucracy remains a concern. Consider for example the Zions Financial Center, an exciting project announced in late August but not approved by the planning commission until late February. That's too slow.

• Encourage diverse uses. This would include government, business, retail and housing. The Wells Fargo Center is a good example of creating a space for a major corporation, smaller firms and residents.

Another use, tourism, would be bolstered by a downtown conference center closely linked to the Covey Center for the Arts. This will be especially true if the city encourages the construction of new hotels -- for example, on the block of the existing Zion's Bank at 100 North and Freedom Blvd.

• Make transportation a priority. Downtown residents and visitors must have easy access to the FrontRunner commuter rail train, which is expected to reach Provo in 2011, and to light rail. At the same time, drivers must be drawn to the city's core. A big challenge will be linking the downtown via University Avenue to the East Bay area, and also linking the city's core to Interstate 15 via Center Street.

Freedom Blvd. could become a more useful artery in an out of downtown. Better east-west connections and an improved link to Provo Towne Centre would encourage more people to drive, making University less of a speedway and thus friendlier to shoppers.

Parking remains vital. It's no use arguing that in suburban areas people will think nothing of parking a hundred yards away from a mall entrance, but they'll complain if they have to park 50 feet from the front door of a city store. There needs to be lots of convenient parking, on street and off.

• Don't get carried away. Plans should be realistic, and the free market usually ensures practical outcomes. But big dreams by government can sometimes turn into boondoggles.

There are dozens of downtowns across the nation that would love to have what Provo has: quaint storefronts, low crime, a couple of big new office projects, a growing county government, two major university campuses nearby, and all in a growing, prosperous region. The basic building blocks of a wonderful, revitalized downtown are in place, and ample resources seem to be available. It's just a matter of putting it all together wisely and energetically. We urge the city, county, businesses and residents to work hard to make that happen.

Do you agree?