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.
The great shopping malls and big box stores often spell doom for downtown merchants, restaurants, and movie theaters. People from the suburbs and those in the city who are tired of fighting traffic head for the 'one-stop' shopping of the suburban centers. By restricting automobile traffic and making the downtown area pleasant to the eye, pedestrian malls and plazas help keep local businesses alive.
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.
Some are linear, being a section of sidewalk where trees replace parked cars and raised flowerbeds double as seating. These mini-parks have been built in all kinds of neighborhoods, from the most affluent to the poorest. They come under the supervision of the central government but may be underwritten by grants and maintained by local businesses.
The cost of construction is minor compared to the cost of maintaining a plaza. Keeping the area clean, well-lit, and well-landscaped is often left to local businesses, which benefit from the traffic attracted to the plaza. Residents can help on a voluntary basis, as well, which fosters community spirit. Taking pride in a local improvement helps make it both popular and worthy of respect.
This method of improving the quality of life in the inner city has taken New York City by storm. There are dozens of these walker havens across the various boroughs. Detroit and Los Angeles are other major cities that have successfully implemented this urban renewal project (one which is much more effective than many other things that have been tried.)
Go online for more information and to see pictures of these downtown havens for pedestrians. You can see how pleasantly they enhance a neighborhood previously a desolate artery for vehicular traffic. Where once there was no place to sit or stroll, now there are comfortable benches, planters of bright flowers, and space for community events.
The great shopping malls and big box stores often spell doom for downtown merchants, restaurants, and movie theaters. People from the suburbs and those in the city who are tired of fighting traffic head for the 'one-stop' shopping of the suburban centers. By restricting automobile traffic and making the downtown area pleasant to the eye, pedestrian malls and plazas help keep local businesses alive.
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.
Some are linear, being a section of sidewalk where trees replace parked cars and raised flowerbeds double as seating. These mini-parks have been built in all kinds of neighborhoods, from the most affluent to the poorest. They come under the supervision of the central government but may be underwritten by grants and maintained by local businesses.
The cost of construction is minor compared to the cost of maintaining a plaza. Keeping the area clean, well-lit, and well-landscaped is often left to local businesses, which benefit from the traffic attracted to the plaza. Residents can help on a voluntary basis, as well, which fosters community spirit. Taking pride in a local improvement helps make it both popular and worthy of respect.
This method of improving the quality of life in the inner city has taken New York City by storm. There are dozens of these walker havens across the various boroughs. Detroit and Los Angeles are other major cities that have successfully implemented this urban renewal project (one which is much more effective than many other things that have been tried.)
Go online for more information and to see pictures of these downtown havens for pedestrians. You can see how pleasantly they enhance a neighborhood previously a desolate artery for vehicular traffic. Where once there was no place to sit or stroll, now there are comfortable benches, planters of bright flowers, and space for community events.
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