Placemaking Project Part 1

The Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden - Minneapolis, MN

The Walker Art Center is one of the most visited contemporary art museums in the United States. Iconically known for the Spoonbridge & Cherry sculpture in their sculpture gardens, the Walker Art Center attracts over 700,000 visitors per year. The Walker Art Center is a great public place for people to go walk around, hang out, take pictures and relax. All throughout high school, this sculpture garden was a common attraction for my friends and I.  When I was a senior in high school it was very common place for students to go get their senior portraits taken. I think a great thing about this place is its peacefulness and serenity.  It is large enough for people to be spread out, yet it is small enough to socialize. Sculptures and art are great conversation topics. Each individual often has his or her own perception of art, especially when it comes to modern art. This space not only provides a calm atmosphere in which people can relax but also provides a space for discussion and the expansion of thought. 

Pearl Street - Boulder, Colorado

Pearl Street is among the top two favorite public places I have been to. The great thing about Pearl Street is that it is a 100% pedestrian-only mall in the city of Boulder, Colorado. Lining this mall is unique shops, restaurants and bars that offer outdoor patio seating for a great meal and view of the mountains. Needless to say, these businesses are often busy with constant flows of people in and out.  In addition to commerce and business, Pearl Street often has street performers entertaining crowds of people at a time. These performers range from magicians to musicians to children practicing their school band practice assignments for tips. Pearl Street also has a really unique fountain in which kids often bask around in on a hot summers day. 

I believe that there are several commonalities between the Walker Art Center Sculpture Gardens and the Pearl Street Mall that make them attractive public places that enrich, foster, and sustain communities. Both the Pearl Street Mall and the Walker Art Center Sculpture Gardens are big areas that are made to feel small, compact and organized. First and foremost, both the sculpture garden and Pearl Street Mall are completely pedestrian-oriented. However, if you are going to make a space completely pedestrian-oriented it is crucial that the public space is attractive to pedestrian traffic, otherwise, the renovation of the space may not make much economic sense.  A well-organized public space is vital in attracting people to spend time in the space. Both the Pearl Street Mall and the Walker Art Center Sculpture Gardens do a great job at maintaining the cleanliness of the space. I have been to the sculpture gardens countless times and Pearl Street four times and they have always been presentable and maintained. 

The sculpture garden and Pearl Street both also have ample seating. The sculpture gardens have ample benches and large grassy areas to sit down. Pearl Street, albeit more laid brick and stone, has a lot of benches and ledges that are at a normal proportion for people to sit on and be comfortable. When people sit down and relax they tend to be more open to random social interactions with people nearby. The seating at both Pearl Street and the sculpture garden provide opportunities for social interaction.  

Another commonality between the two is arts. Art is a huge attraction for pedestrians. People come from all over the United States to go see the Walker Art Center Sculpture Gardens. While Pearl Street may not be a national art treasure, the street performers draw plenty of crowds.

Both Pearl Street and the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden also foster economic growth. Pearl Street thrives with commerce and businesses that spur economic growth for the City of Boulder. According to the City of Boulder's Sales & Use Tax Revenue Reports, sales tax collections were up 5.9% in 2014, 13.45% in 2015, 1.07% in 2016.  Like Pearl Street, the Walker Art Center is fantastic for the economic growth of Minneapolis. According to their 2015-2016 Annual Report, the Walker Art Center finished the year with a balanced budget for their 35th consecutive year and according to Walker Art Center Executive Director,  Olga Viso, "its endowment market value remained strong at $189 million." Currently, the sculpture garden is under renovation. 

Another key aspect that makes both of these places fantastic public spaces is that both places are constantly trying to improve their attractions not only for social aspects but also environmental. As noted in their annual report, the Walker Art Center Sculpture Gardens are currently under renovation. The sculpture garden will reopen "June 2017 with nearly 20 new artworks following a $10 million infrastructure renovation that will restore a beloved Minnesota landmark while providing new native habitat and protecting the waters of the Mississippi River." A big renovation they are doing is on the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture. Viso states that an "80,000-gallon underground cistern will capture water from the fountain-sculpture Spoonbridge and Cherry, redistributing it to irrigate the Garden and the adjacent baseball field. The system will reuse nearly 5 million gallons per year—water previously destined for the city’s storm sewer system and, ultimately, the river" (2015-2016 Annual Report). This redistribution of water will benefit both the public space and the Minneapolis environment as a whole. 

Boulder, Colorado is home to the Partners for a Clean Environment Program(PACE). The PACE program, according to the Downtown Boulder Website provides "free expert advisor services, financial incentives and a certification program to help businesses measure and gain recognition for their energy, waste, water, and transportation achievements." PACE has been very successful in Boulder, over 3,700 business are currently using their models. A huge PACE campaign that is starting to be implemented is their Zero Waste initiative in Boulder. Two videos below show how the zero waste initiative has been used by University Bicycles and St. Julien Spa in Boudler, Colorado.

Innovations and renovations that benefit not only the immediate surroundings but the environment as a whole is one of many reasons why I believe the Walker Art Center and Pearl Street should be held in regard as a model of a good public places.