The Placemaking Round-Up
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
The Biweekly Bazaar
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
“It was important for the design to address four key focus areas: providing a versatile storage solution, creating a vibrant landmark, adding staff presence, and connecting to Public Square’s design. This kiosk will allow us to build on the 200 plus activations we host on Public Square every year.”
—Michael Deemer, President and CEO of Downtown Cleveland, Inc.
In 2023, Downtown Cleveland, Inc. received a Community Placemaking Grant from Project for Public Spaces, with support from General Motors, to work with community members and conceptualize a welcoming hospitality kiosk to serve visitors to Public Square, located in the heart of Downtown Cleveland. A friendly amenity for visitors day and night, the kiosk not only provides directions and assistance but also offers games, toys, and books to borrow; it is a place where visitors can meet staff, learn about upcoming events, and feel safer and more connected to the space.
In 2016, a redevelopment project transformed Downtown Cleveland’s Public Square from four separate town squares into one distinct 10-acre park. In 2023, Downtown Cleveland’s population had grown 32% since 2010, and five office towers in the area had recently been converted into 1,200 new housing units. Despite the increased need for green space to accommodate rapid population growth, Public Square was, for many, a place to walk through or around rather than a destination to linger, visit intentionally, or spend time. While Public Square is an active transit hub and central gathering space for large public events, Downtown Cleveland, Inc. pursued a Community Placemaking Grant with the goal of enhancing the Square’s presence and appeal to local residents through free, regular activities and programming.
The concept of the kiosk grew out of the highly successful month-long game station, which showed a clear community desire for a more permanent, engaging presence in the square. The broader engagement process was thorough and inclusive, incorporating working group tours, community workshops, stakeholder interviews, an online survey, and the game station itself.
Guided by Project for Public Spaces, these efforts collected input from a working group tour, two community workshops, five stakeholder interviews, an online survey with over 800 responses, and a month-long game station. The feedback reinforced the need and desire for greater staff presence and the placemaking process ensured that the final kiosk design and placement were shaped by, and for, the community. In the end, the goal was to create a kiosk that brings all four project goals to life—offering versatile storage, serving as a vibrant landmark, adding a visible staff presence, and seamlessly complementing Public Square’s design.
The progress demonstrated through our Community Placemaking Grants often helps our grantees attract additional support from local partners, whose added funding further strengthens the transformation process. “Because of this project, we’ve actually been able to leverage even more support for all of our work here,” says Hannah Gall, Downtown Cleveland Inc.’s Senior Director for Parks & Public Spaces. In addition to the $100K in funding from the Community Placemaking Grant, Downtown Cleveland secured support from LAND studio to help finalize the design and contract with a local fabricator, Rustbelt Welding Co., to build and install the programming hub.
The kiosk, with light shining through its colorful rooftop and reflecting onto the surrounding ground, opened in September 2025, followed by an official ribbon-cutting in October. Since then, visitors have been greeted by friendly staff through large windows and welcomed to borrow fun materials and games to enjoy their time at the square, which is open from 5am to midnight every day. The kiosk is staffed by a Park Host who serves as an on-the-ground ambassador, engaging visitors and activating the space through ongoing programming.
"[Visitors of all ages] are really finding something for themselves here. Whether you're a tourist looking for directions, you just need assistance from a staff person, or looking to pass the time with a fun game, there's something for everyone here at the kiosk.”
—Hannah Gall, Senior Director for Parks & Public Spaces, Downtown Cleveland, Inc.
We’re truly thrilled to imagine all the vibrant, community-driven activations that will unfold at the kiosk for years to come, bringing even more energy and connection to Public Square.
Follow Cleveland Public Square on Instagram to keep up with the new kiosk and the ongoing activities on its lawn, splash pad, café, and more!
Learn more about Project for Public Spaces’ Community Placemaking Grants.
Cleveland.com: “Public Square opens new hospitality kiosk this weekend"
Fox 8: “Cleveland Public Square hospitality kiosk now open"
Project for Public Spaces’ Community Placemaking Grants enable US-based nonprofits and government agencies to address inequality of access to public places that serve community needs by working directly with local stakeholders to transform spaces or co-create new ones. We do this by providing direct funding, technical assistance, and capacity building facilitated by Project for Public Spaces. Learn more about how to become a Social Impact Partner today.
You can also support our work by making a donation. Every bit helps to bring public spaces to life!
