The sound of loud applause could be heard Oct. 9 as Bowling Green finally breaks ground on one of its most ambitious projects for downtown.

Circus Square officially became a reality as city and county officials gathered to officially begin construction.

The idea for Circus Square began almost a decade ago when city consultants found a map that showed the area around 6th and College Streets which used to be called "Circus Lot."

"We presented it to the community and they selected it as a top priority to restore it and add some pizazz," explained Cheryl Blaine, executive director for the Downtown Redevelopment Authority.

However, getting the project off the ground was a major challenge.

"Lack of funding. We had to make sure that the people located around the Circus Square area were re-located to a place of their satisfaction," Blaine added.

One of those relocated was Doug Gorman, who had to move his business from College St. over to State St.

After the state stepped in with $15-million in funding and help from the city of Bowling Green, the project got going.

Gorman recalls that Circus Square was supposed to take 10 years to complete, but will actually be completed in half that time.

The increased speed of the Circus Square project has put the entire downtown revitalization project on the fast track.

"The master plan said a 20-year process to develop a lot of things down here, and five years into it a lot of these things are happening," Gorman assured.

Since the announcement of Circus Square, downtown has seen an influx of businesses and projects such as the new Chamber of Commerce building.

Several other projects like SKYPAC and other mixed-use developments are also in the works.

"If you look at all the new places and people that have come to downtown since we mentioned that we're going to redo Circus Square, it'll really show you that its the catalyst," Blaine said.

Circus Square is expected to be completed next summer.

Blaine added that she would like to usher in the opening of the square with an actual circus.