In the heart of downtown Decatur, Indiana, a once-ordinary street has been transformed into Madison Street Plaza - a flexible, art-filled public space that serves as both a vital downtown corridor and a gathering place for community life. The project - led by landscape architecture firm Jones Petrie Rafinksi - demonstrates how intentional design can merge history, art, and functionality to create a destination that reflects a city's unique character.

From the start, the design team envisioned the plaza as a place where Decatur's strong artistic identity could take center stage. The city's thriving arts community - known for its annual Sculpture Tour and commitment to creative expression - inspired a contemporary design approach. While nearby streetscapes embraced a traditional aesthetic to complement the surrounding historic architecture, the Madison Street site offered a unique opportunity to experiment. Located just off the main thoroughfare, it allowed for a more modern expression while still using historically resonant materials to connect visually with the downtown context.

Plaza Design
One of the project's key design tensions was balancing historical preservation with a desire for modern expression. The plaza's most distinctive feature is its flowing paver pattern. Rustic red and dark charcoal Hollandstone pavers by Unilock were selected to evoke the character of old brick streets, visually tying the plaza to the historic courthouse and surrounding downtown. Installed in a herringbone pattern with smooth finishes and black jointing sand, the pavers create a unified surface that blends historical character with modern precision. From these materials, a distinctive pattern emerged - evolving from early design sketches into a dynamic layout that intuitively guides movement and blurs the line between pedestrian and vehicular space. Extending the pattern beyond the typical driving lane reinforces the curbless design, signaling that this is a plaza first and a street second. This approach prioritizes pedestrians while maintaining vehicle access, creating a flexible space that easily adapts to community events.

The plaza's details and material selections elevate its design with high-quality, durable products. Street lighting enhances visibility and ambience after dark, while site furnishings provide comfortable and stylish seating. These include 4-foot backed and 6-foot backless Terraza benches in a jet-black gloss finish, complementing the contemporary character of the space. Planting selections, such as Green Vase Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata 'Green Vase'), frame the plaza with shade and seasonal interest, softening the urban setting and enhancing pedestrian comfort. Together, these elements create a cohesive and enduring environment that balances hardscape and landscape.

 

Art and Function
Flexibility was central to the plaza's concept. The shared street functions as a one-way route with parallel parking along one side. Yet, with removable bollards, the block effortlessly transforms into a car-free zone for festivals, summer concerts, and public gatherings. The curbless design enhances accessibility and safety, making the plaza welcoming to all users while simplifying event setup.

Public art is woven into the very fabric of the plaza. The design team worked closely with the city to identify appropriate locations and sizes for sculptures, which would both enhance the aesthetic experience and serve functional purposes, like traffic calming. The plaza was designed to support the rotating installations of the Decatur Sculpture Tour, allowing artwork to change annually and keeping the space dynamic for repeat visitors. By placing sculptures along the perimeter walkways, the design ensures they enhance the pedestrian experience without obstructing event layouts or vehicle movement. This integration of art reinforces Decatur's creative identity and transforms the plaza into an open-air gallery.

Problem Solving
Bringing this vision to life required careful collaboration and problem-solving. Early in the process, a steering committee provided input on functionality, aesthetics, and community priorities. Observations from the city's Sculpture Tour event further informed the placement of art elements and guided the design toward solutions that would resonate with residents and visitors. Every element of the layout - from the broad, uninterrupted paving to the strategically placed art pads - was considered with the dual goals of daily use and event activation in mind.

Construction presented technical hurdles that required creative solutions. The discovery of old coal chutes beneath the sidewalk demanded careful removal and filling to ensure a structurally sound walkway. Designing the tent anchoring system was another complex task, as it had to support a variety of event layouts without compromising the plaza's clean visual lines. The project team worked closely with the city to determine common tent sizes and integrate anchors in a way that would serve event organizers while remaining unobtrusive to the casual visitor.

Maintaining access to local businesses during construction was equally important. The project team and contractor carefully phased work to minimize disruption, using temporary walkways and protected entrances to ensure that shops always remained accessible. This coordination preserved the vitality of downtown Decatur throughout the construction period and strengthened community support for the project.

Outcome
Today, Madison Street Plaza has become a focal point for community life. Sculptures from the Sculpture Tour are regularly installed in the space, creating a dynamic visual experience that evolves year after year. The block-long street can be easily converted into a pedestrian plaza for events like Decatur's summer concert series while remaining a welcoming environment that encourages walking, gathering, and lingering. Even during major events, the plaza's thoughtful design allows most art pieces to remain in place, reinforcing its identity as both a functional street and an outdoor gallery.

The project offers valuable lessons for future public space and streetscape initiatives. Designing for flexibility requires an in-depth understanding of both everyday needs and special event programming, along with close collaboration with those who will steward the space in the long term. Embedding public art into the design of a civic space strengthens community identity and draws people in, while harmonizing historic references with contemporary design creates environments that feel both authentic and forward-looking.

Madison Street Plaza is more than an infrastructure improvement; it is a stage for community life. By combining historical sensitivity, artistic integration, multi-functional design, and carefully selected products and plantings, the project has given downtown Decatur a destination that honors its past, embraces creativity, and serves its community in new and meaningful ways. As the city continues to celebrate its artistic spirit, the plaza will remain a lasting symbol of how thoughtful public space design can enrich both the daily experience of residents and the cultural identity of a community.

As seen in LASN magazine, November 2025.