Landscape Architect Articles

Cleveland's Historic Public Square Reopens 08-10-16 | Department

Cleveland's Historic Public Square Reopens

While the refurbished Cleveland Public Square has a large green space, one of its striking elements is a hardscape of more than 2 million pounds (1,200 pieces) of custom precast concrete from Tectura Designs, a division of Wausau Tile. The hardscaping required massive and intricate pieces, which the manufacturer said required "hundreds of complex and incredibly difficult-to-make molds."

As of this writing, the Republican National Convention just descended (July 18-21) on Cleveland's Quicken Arena. The city can not only boast about being NBA champs, but also show off the $50 million renovation, expansion and modernization of the nearby 10-acre downtown Cleveland Public Square.

Public Square officially reopened on June 30 with the Shaw Hight School Marching Band and the cheerleaders of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ten years in the planning, the redesign of Public Square makes the city's urban core more walkable and liveable, offering offers six acres of promenades, seat walls integrated into the turf, gardens, a public lawn and a splash pad.

The landscape architect for the project was James Corner Field Operations, the noted designer of New York City's High Line. LAND Studio, a Cleveland nonprofit, managed the project, and contractors working under the construction firm Donley's, rebuilt the square.

The $53-million renovation including $13 million to upgrade utilities. Key project donors included the Cleveland Foundation ($8 million), and the Gund Foundation ($5 million). Approximately $22.5 million of the $37 million cost of rebuilding the square's surface came from private sources, including corporations and foundations.

To facilitate the large green space in the center of the park, Ontario Street was closed. The former four traffic islands became two larger rectangular spaces bisected by Superior Avenue, which still runs east-west through the center of the square, but is now only for buses. Speaking with PBS affiliate WBIZ, James Corner noted that it wasn't that long ago that public spaces were seen as a waste of taxpayer money, places that were more likely to attract the homeless and crime, rather than be a public benefit for local residents and workers. Corner believes that perception has changed; he perceives public spaces as powerful resources that bring positive energy to cities.

The park began life as a public commons, and has long served as a transit hub for two busy downtown streets. Historically, the square was the local for the local militia to assembly. It was also where 100,000 Cleveland citizens gathered on April 28, 1865 for some 15 hours on a continuous rainy day to view Abraham Lincoln's coffin under an open outdoor pagoda (Carl Sandburg's description). This was one of the stops along the 1,654-mile memorial procession.

Some aspects of the park remain the same. The southeast corner of the square still prominently displays the 125-foot-tall monument to Civil War soldiers and sailors.

Fast forward to today. While Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's focus was on creating a green space for public recreation, Public Square is only a few blocks from Quicken Arena. Public Square is sure to witness crowds associated with the RNC Convention. Reports out of Cleveland also expect protesters to demonstrate in Public Square over the two recent fatal shootings by police in Louisiana and Minnesota. And the local citizenry is already signing up to speak on the square's new public stage, which has a long history of oratory, from Stephen Douglas to Horace Greeley, and Sam Houston to William McKinley.