Great Places Underway

PPS projects make the transition from vision to reality

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World Class Institutions, World Class Public Spaces

On October 10th, Cleveland's Wade Oval celebrated the completion of improvements that PPS recommended in our February 2002 report. Situated in the heart of the University Circle district, Wade Oval is surrounded by world class cultural institutions, such as the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Western Reserve Historical Society, and PPS was hired to help make the Oval a public space worthy of these institutions. PPS led an intensive planning process that brought the surrounding institutions and residents of neighboring communities together to improve the Oval. "The vision that came out of our workshop with stakeholders was very compelling," said PPS Vice-President Kathy Madden. "Wade Oval is seen as the central place that serves as an active and welcoming front door to the cultural heart of University Circle."

When the construction fences came down at the re-dedication in October 2003, they revealed new walkways, pathway lighting, benches, lampposts, drinking fountains, and a performance stage that blends in with the surrounding landscape. In addition, neighbor Case Western Reserve University began supplying free wireless internet service in the park. The cultural spirit of the new Wade Oval was apparent in the re-dedication ceremony itself, which featured music and performances by several of the surrounding institutions, ending with a community concert presented by University Circle Inc. and Case Western Reserve University. The next step is to implement a plan for programming and events that will make Wade Oval a destination unto itself.

Surrounded by numerous nationally acclaimed public institutions, Philadelphia's Logan Square faced a similar problem to Wade Oval. Multiple museums, an art college, a library, a beautiful cathedral, a four star hotel and a courthouse are all directly adjacent to the Square, but heavy traffic and unsafe pedestrian conditions hampered its quality as a public space. Last year, PPS and the Center City District worked with local residents, businesses, and institutions to develop a vision for Logan Square as a world-class civic space.

Now, a $1.5 million grant from the William Penn Foundation and a $3 million grant from the Pew Charitable Trust are enabling improvements to move forward. New pedestrian lighting will be installed to complement the Square's renowned Swann Fountain sculpture and the facades of surrounding buildings; additional traffic signals and islands will improve pedestrian safety and access to the Square. A separate $948,000 Transportation Enhancement grant may soon follow, which would pay for re-landscaping of the Square's green spaces.

PPS led an intensive planning process that brought the surrounding institutions and residents of neighboring communities together to improve the Oval.

With the safety and accessibility improvements on the horizon, neighboring institutions are eager to give people more reasons to visit the Square. Early programmatic ideas have ranged from outdoor fashion shows courtesy of the art college, to parochial school commencement ceremonies that are normally held in the cathedral. With so many world-class institutions committed to improving Logan Square, its future looks bright.

The Return of the Civic Square

All over the world, we're seeing the return of civic squares that act as centers of community life. One of the most striking examples is taking shape in Detroit, where PPS led the visioning process for Campus Martius Park, a new public space in the heart of downtown that began construction in May 2003. Located in Detroit's historic center, at the intersection of five major streets, Campus Martius Park is the anchor of a downtown revitalization intended to bring in new businesses, housing, and street activity.

The initiative for Campus Martius Park came from the Mayor's Office and the Detroit 300 Conservancy, who brought in PPS to engage local stakeholders. The result was a vision for Campus Martius as one of the world's best public spaces--with multiple destinations, innovative programming, pedestrian accessibility, and strong connections to transit and surrounding neighborhoods. When completed, Campus Martius Park will be a major destination for residents, office workers, and tourists alike.

All over the world, we're seeing the return of civic squares that act as centers of community life.

The surrounding area is undergoing a major revitalization, with new retail space, new corporate headquarters fronting the park, and swaths of nearby historic buildings being converted to residential use. The new park will be the engine driving these developments. "We're dubbing it Detroit's Town Square," said Robert Gregory, Executive Director of Detroit 300. "It's meant to be a major economic catalyst for revitalizing downtown."

Campus Martius Park is slated for completion in late 2004. We expect the finished place to set the standard for new civic squares, and we hope other cities will look and learn from Detroit's example.

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