Tactical approach leads to grand vision

Times Square in New York City, where temporary pedestrian areas were created in places once reserved for automobiles, is a high-profile example of tactical urbanism. Success led to big investments that revitalized the internationally renowned space.

A new exemplar may be emerging in Providence, Rhode Island, where a primary public space is coming back to life — first with tactical urbanism, and now with more formal planning.

Tactical urbanism tends to work best in places with “good bones” that have been compromised by automobile-oriented design. Providence has a wealth of historical architecture and human-scale streets that have been reviving in recent years.

Kennedy Plaza in Providence was “once a stately civic plaza bookended” by important civic buildings, the Providence City Hall and a Federal Building/US courthouse, but has been compromised in recent decades by disjointed uses, according to Union Studio, a Providence architecture and urban design firm.

The civic space occupies nearly 12 acres and the entire project could cost $20-25 million, but it is planned in phases that could start with significant improvements at far less cost than the total. Federal, state, city and the private sector/business community funding sources are being employed or explored.

The most prominent Art Deco skyscraper in Providence, the “Superman Building,” so-called because of its resemblance to the Daily Planet building in the old Superman comics, is located on the plaza. 

“Around 2000, the plaza became a central hub for the RI Public Transit Authority’s passenger terminal, a move that brought thousands of people through the center of Downtown Providence per day — providing vital access to public transit — but doing little to create a place where visitors wanted to spend time,” reports Union Studio, which is leading the design team. The plaza is also the location of a skating center and a green space, but these uses are divided by roads with significant vehicular traffic, interrupting the experience of people on foot.

The goal is “to make Kennedy Plaza the number one destination in Downtown Providence ... and the best public square in New England,” says Union Studio, which is leading the design team.

When completed, Kennedy Plaza will have many parts, including: Civic plaza by the city hall; Market square; Formal gardens/judicial square; Burnside Park; Bank of America City Center: Biltmore Plaza and Gardens.

The plan has come about after a series of tactical urbanism steps that have proven the potential for the space as a gateway to the city. “In recent years, the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy has successfully activated the space through public events, demonstrating the potential of Kennedy Plaza as an urban gathering place and setting the stage” for larger investment, says Union Studio. Among the steps was setting up cones to eliminate lanes. “It worked – traffic did not come to a standstill, says Russ Preston, a Boston-based urban designer. The space was activated through street fairs and arts projects, he says. In the spring of 2012 the FirstWorks festival was held in Kennedy Plaza, attracting  40,000 people.

“The whole city got it. This was their public space, and it all started with Tactical Urbanism,” Preston says.

Funds for the design came from a National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant. City and state funds will be used for the first stages of renovation, the Brown Daily Herald reports.

Design solutions

Decentralizing the Buses. Several big moves are incorporated into the overall design solution, the most significant of which is decentralizing the bus berths so that the heart of the plaza can be opened to other uses with increased emphasis on pedestrians.

Unifying the Plaza as a Whole: Reducing the number of vehicular through-ways and altering the traffic pattern will maximize the park’s cohesion as public open space. Strategic grade changes, such as raising Washington Street so that it is level with adjacent grading, will improve visual and physical connections within the plaza.

Kennedy Plaza now, above, and according to the plan, below

Establishing clear lines of sight through landscaping and architectural design will create visual linkages through the park to surrounding landmark buildings and public art.

Creating Nine Distinct “Destinations” within the Plaza: Greater Kennedy Plaza, in its best long-term execution, can serve multiple public needs. The team envisions nine ideal destinations:

1) Central Square — A central meeting place with unobstructed flexible space that can be used for entertainment and events. It will be active, with food trucks, seating, signage, art, and performance.

2) Civic Plaza — This will be the “front porch” of City Hall, used as a venue for political events and speeches. The area will be improved with added seating and plantings.

3) Market Square — Envisioned as the economic engine of the revitalized plaza, with an active market featuring indoor and outdoor cafe seating and entertainment.

4) Judicial Square/Formal Gardens — Sited in front of the federal building, this area will feature formal botanical gardens with moveable seating.

5) Bank of America City Center — The area will retain its function as a skating rink, and new recreational uses will be explored. The area will be designed to make the space more welcoming and amenable to alternate events. New retail buildings will be added to support diverse activity.

6) Burnside Park — Physical improvements will make this park, part of Kennedy Plaza, a destination for families or individuals looking for daily relaxation and recreational activities. Additional programming options being considered include a wading fountain, bocce courts, expanded children’s play area, exercise circuit and public art.

7) Biltmore Plaza and Gardens — Landscaping and programming improvements in this section of the plaza will transform it to a quiet, lush garden with a gazebo that can be used by the adjacent hotels, businesses and individuals for special events (like wedding receptions) or simply as a quiet reading area.

8) Terrace — A series of terraces will be created as a means to host retail and restaurants, such as a beer garden, at Exchange Terrace, while the terraces will also provide a setting that overlooks events at the Bank of America Center.

9) Gateway — This area serves as the visual connection facing the Providence train station, and should be better utilized as a gateway to the park through signage, wayfinding, and interactive sculptures.