In many cities and villages around the world the
public square is an important center of community
life. They often occur in a variety of forms, from
the cozy traditional New England “village green” to
expansive plazas like Trafalgar Square in London.
But every case, the public square is the heart of
the down-town district, creating the pulse of
people that flow through Main Street. The Civic
supports the creation of a pub-lic square at each
of the commercial centers along Portion Road, as
identified during the community visioning.
The Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to cre-ating and sustaining public places, has analyzed hundreds of public squares and compiled a list of principals that produce successful public squares.
==> Image and Identity: Squares need to help shape the identity of the community by imparting a distinctive image, such as a fountain or sculpture.
==> Attractions and Destinations: The best civic squares have numerous small attractions, like vendor carts, cafes, and playgrounds.
==> Amenities: Lighting, benches, and public art are just some the features that create an active and successful square.
==> Access: Squares are only successful if people use them on a consistent basis, and that requires comfortable pedestrian access. Access is accomplished by hav-ing pathways to the square that are enjoyable to walk along, that reach out into the surrounding neighborhoods, and have the square visible along the path-way creating an enticing attraction.
==> Central Management: Successful public squares may appear self-administering, but in fact there is an or-ganization, such as a civic or chamber of commerce, that works to keep the square safe and attractive, and plans events to keep the square lively, which brings the community together.
The Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to cre-ating and sustaining public places, has analyzed hundreds of public squares and compiled a list of principals that produce successful public squares.
==> Image and Identity: Squares need to help shape the identity of the community by imparting a distinctive image, such as a fountain or sculpture.
==> Attractions and Destinations: The best civic squares have numerous small attractions, like vendor carts, cafes, and playgrounds.
==> Amenities: Lighting, benches, and public art are just some the features that create an active and successful square.
==> Access: Squares are only successful if people use them on a consistent basis, and that requires comfortable pedestrian access. Access is accomplished by hav-ing pathways to the square that are enjoyable to walk along, that reach out into the surrounding neighborhoods, and have the square visible along the path-way creating an enticing attraction.
==> Central Management: Successful public squares may appear self-administering, but in fact there is an or-ganization, such as a civic or chamber of commerce, that works to keep the square safe and attractive, and plans events to keep the square lively, which brings the community together.
