An occasional drive-in theater in downtown Macon? It’s coming

Two projects in downtown Macon, including a periodic drive-in theater, are among proposals that will share funding from the Knight Cities Challenge.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced initiatives across the country Monday that will share $5 million as winners of the challenge.

In Macon, the Tubman Museum will get $92,925 for a “back lot drive-in” at the Cherry Street museum, according to the foundation.

The Tubman will transform the museum’s parking lot into a drive-in theater “with screenings that coincide with exhibitions that support the museum’s mission to educate visitors about African-American art, history and culture.”

Also, an idea for a “pop-up garage park,” submitted by Cole Porter, will receive $25,465. Porter proposed converting an abandoned parking garage into “a vibrant, environmentally friendly community space by introducing green space, art, tables and event programming.”

The Knight Cities Challenge seeks new ideas that help cities attract and keep talented people, as well as those that expand economic prospects and those that spur connection and civic involvement.

The ideas must focus on helping Macon, or any of the other 25 Knight cities, which include Columbus and Milledgeville in Georgia. Submissions may be made by anyone living anywhere, as long as the proposed ideas benefit one of the 26 places where the Knight brothers once owned newspapers.

This story was originally published June 12, 2017 at 3:55 PM with the headline "An occasional drive-in theater in downtown Macon? It’s coming."