The new shelters will be so much more than Farmers Market Shelters. Many people have realized that these structures will provide the opportunity for creating a central place for the community, with the nearby downtown businesses, park and playground, food bank and so much more. Here is a thought provoking overview of things we can consider as we vision this place into a community central place.
Create a Central Place for the Community
A successful public realm is one in which commerce, social interaction, and leisure time activities mix easily in an attractive, pedestrian-friendly, outdoor setting. People are drawn by the simple enjoyment of being there. If that enjoyment is to be felt, the public realm and public spaces must be well designed and programmed.
A well-conceived public realm has the following attributes:
■ It is a compelling central space that people are attracted to for its placement, design, and surrounding uses. The space can be a street, a boulevard, a square, or a combination of all three with other urban design elements.
■ Movement between uses is easy, and sight lines facilitate wayfinding and encourage exploration.
■ Effective programs and events are used to animate the space, and the capacity of the management is adequate to ensure programming for the space.
■ Open spaces are sized and shaped to allow events to be held in them. They provide stage areas and technical support where appropriate.
■ The public realm is open to programs that are significant to the community, such as charity events, holiday events, and civic events. It becomes a true public place, taking on a life of its own. As a part of the community that goes beyond simple commerce or public relations, it ultimately becomes a place with a history. The public realm should allow for the integration of the people, the place, and the larger community.
■ The public realm is inclusive and brings together all the different segments of the community that may wish to visit or use the public spaces.
■ An experience is created and delivered that the market values and that generates premiums for the residences and offices in the town center.
■ The public realm is integrated with adjacent uses that significantly enliven the public space, such as bookstores, libraries, public buildings, cultural facilities.
The big idea is to create a place that is the place to be—to make the place as authentic as possible, a place that will have lasting identity.