Pedestrian malls have become part of the urban scene since the economic downturn in the 1960s and '70s. City leaders hoping to revitalize downtown areas made auto-free zones for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Pedestrian plazas are a relatively recent version designed to make city living safer, more pleasant, and more scenic.
Cities and towns struggle to compete with the huge box stores and the shopping centers of the suburbs. Residents from housing developments see no need to go downtown for their essentials. Even worse, downtown residents flee the traffic and congestion for 'one-stop' shopping outside the city limits. The old business districts become depressing areas of closed storefronts, convenience stores, and cheap apartments. Transient residents replace settled families and name-brand stores choose to locate at the suburban malls.
Cities began to close off inner city streets to automobile traffic around 1960, leaving three or four-block areas restricted to pedestrians. The malls, often in historic districts, feature tree-shaded walks lined with flowerbeds and benches. On each side are storefronts, restaurants, and entertainment centers. People can browse through boutiques and specialty shops, eat outside, and stroll safely through pretty places. Although not every municipality succeeded in attracting enough business to these downtown centers, most malls have survived.
The plaza is similar in purpose though often much smaller in scope. A plaza can be constructed at an intersection or under the end of a bridge or raised commuter line. Most have no shops, restaurants, or movie theaters in the area itself, although they may host food kiosks or street vendors. Such a plaza provides pleasant places to sit and a respite from the cars that rush by or park in every available spot.
New York City has embraced the concept and has constructed plazas in all kinds of communities. The city fathers want to make these available to both affluent and poor neighborhoods. The plaza is designed to be affordable to construct, while continuing as a joint project of central government and local businesses.
The cost of creating a plaza is minor compared to the on-going maintenance. The community areas must be kept well-lit, clean, and scenic with well-tended flowerbeds and litter control. The businesses which benefit from increased traffic, because the area is a more pleasant place to be as well as safer, often undertake the cost of maintaining their local plaza.
This municipal effort to improve the lot of inner city dwellers has been successful in places like Detroit and Los Angeles, which have large inner-city populations and many depressed neighborhoods. For relatively little cost, the cities can make their residents happier, safer, and more connected. This is one government program that seems to be both practical and effective.
For more information and to see photo galleries of some of the most outstanding plazas, go online. You might even recognize some former eyesores which are now pleasant places for residents and visitors alike. Streets that were once arteries for traffic which sailed through without stopping are now attractive spots where business can flourish and residents can take pride in their communities.
Cities and towns struggle to compete with the huge box stores and the shopping centers of the suburbs. Residents from housing developments see no need to go downtown for their essentials. Even worse, downtown residents flee the traffic and congestion for 'one-stop' shopping outside the city limits. The old business districts become depressing areas of closed storefronts, convenience stores, and cheap apartments. Transient residents replace settled families and name-brand stores choose to locate at the suburban malls.
Cities began to close off inner city streets to automobile traffic around 1960, leaving three or four-block areas restricted to pedestrians. The malls, often in historic districts, feature tree-shaded walks lined with flowerbeds and benches. On each side are storefronts, restaurants, and entertainment centers. People can browse through boutiques and specialty shops, eat outside, and stroll safely through pretty places. Although not every municipality succeeded in attracting enough business to these downtown centers, most malls have survived.
The plaza is similar in purpose though often much smaller in scope. A plaza can be constructed at an intersection or under the end of a bridge or raised commuter line. Most have no shops, restaurants, or movie theaters in the area itself, although they may host food kiosks or street vendors. Such a plaza provides pleasant places to sit and a respite from the cars that rush by or park in every available spot.
New York City has embraced the concept and has constructed plazas in all kinds of communities. The city fathers want to make these available to both affluent and poor neighborhoods. The plaza is designed to be affordable to construct, while continuing as a joint project of central government and local businesses.
The cost of creating a plaza is minor compared to the on-going maintenance. The community areas must be kept well-lit, clean, and scenic with well-tended flowerbeds and litter control. The businesses which benefit from increased traffic, because the area is a more pleasant place to be as well as safer, often undertake the cost of maintaining their local plaza.
This municipal effort to improve the lot of inner city dwellers has been successful in places like Detroit and Los Angeles, which have large inner-city populations and many depressed neighborhoods. For relatively little cost, the cities can make their residents happier, safer, and more connected. This is one government program that seems to be both practical and effective.
For more information and to see photo galleries of some of the most outstanding plazas, go online. You might even recognize some former eyesores which are now pleasant places for residents and visitors alike. Streets that were once arteries for traffic which sailed through without stopping are now attractive spots where business can flourish and residents can take pride in their communities.
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