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.
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.
A plaza is often simpler, without the shops or restaurants. There will be trees, comfortable seating, and perhaps a food kiosk or two. They are often constructed at intersections where several main roads come together. They also can be found at the end of bridges and underneath raised commuter lines. These quiet havens give people a pleasant place to rest away from traffic rushing past and cars parked nose to tail on every side.
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 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 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.
There are great photos online of some of the plazas that are bringing scenic beauty and increased safety to those who travel urban areas on foot. Strolling is once more a pleasant way to break the day, and sitting outside enhanced with trees and flowers. This is one government program for inner cities that seems to be working.
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.
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.
A plaza is often simpler, without the shops or restaurants. There will be trees, comfortable seating, and perhaps a food kiosk or two. They are often constructed at intersections where several main roads come together. They also can be found at the end of bridges and underneath raised commuter lines. These quiet havens give people a pleasant place to rest away from traffic rushing past and cars parked nose to tail on every side.
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 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 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.
There are great photos online of some of the plazas that are bringing scenic beauty and increased safety to those who travel urban areas on foot. Strolling is once more a pleasant way to break the day, and sitting outside enhanced with trees and flowers. This is one government program for inner cities that seems to be working.
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