Urban downtown business districts declined markedly after World War II, when housing developments lured residents out of towns and cities. In the 1960s and '70s, the pedestrian mall was born. These auto-free zones for shopping, dining, and entertainment helped revitalize downtown areas across the nation. Pedestrian plazas are similar attempts to make city living more appealing, safer, 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.
A pedestrian mall, often found in historic districts, takes over three or four city blocks. The streets are closed to automobile traffic and might be surfaced with brick and shaded by trees. Flowerbeds or planters are bright spots of color, signs are artistic rather than neon, and comfortable benches make it easy to linger. Shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues line the walks. Residents and tourists are drawn to quiet outside dining, specialty shops, and nightlife.
A plaza is a more recent version of this auto-free zone, often smaller in scope and limited to providing a place to sit or stroll. It might be placed at a busy intersection or at the end of a bridge or raised metro line. Many are like mini-parks, with trees and flowers. Some are bordered by shops and restaurants. Others are a section of sidewalk in front of storefronts; street perking is not allowed.
Others may replace a stretch of sidewalk rather than a section of street. New York City has led the way in plaza construction. The city authorities aim to have these small parks in all kinds of neighborhoods, refusing to let them become one more asset of the affluent. The mini-parks are often joint efforts by government, grants, 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.
Cities which are making an effort to improve the quality of life for their inner-city residents include Los Angeles and Detroit, both areas with large populations and problems with failing communities. For little expense (relatively speaking), cities can improve the appearance and the cohesion of depressed neighborhoods, which formerly may have been little more than traffic conduits.
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.
A pedestrian mall, often found in historic districts, takes over three or four city blocks. The streets are closed to automobile traffic and might be surfaced with brick and shaded by trees. Flowerbeds or planters are bright spots of color, signs are artistic rather than neon, and comfortable benches make it easy to linger. Shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues line the walks. Residents and tourists are drawn to quiet outside dining, specialty shops, and nightlife.
A plaza is a more recent version of this auto-free zone, often smaller in scope and limited to providing a place to sit or stroll. It might be placed at a busy intersection or at the end of a bridge or raised metro line. Many are like mini-parks, with trees and flowers. Some are bordered by shops and restaurants. Others are a section of sidewalk in front of storefronts; street perking is not allowed.
Others may replace a stretch of sidewalk rather than a section of street. New York City has led the way in plaza construction. The city authorities aim to have these small parks in all kinds of neighborhoods, refusing to let them become one more asset of the affluent. The mini-parks are often joint efforts by government, grants, 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.
Cities which are making an effort to improve the quality of life for their inner-city residents include Los Angeles and Detroit, both areas with large populations and problems with failing communities. For little expense (relatively speaking), cities can improve the appearance and the cohesion of depressed neighborhoods, which formerly may have been little more than traffic conduits.
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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