Every day I look out of my office windows onto the new and improved Fountain Square. On days when there is an event taking place (a large event like Taste of Cincinnati or a small event like the Turkey Bowl) there are hundreds or thousands of people on the Square and there is an energy and excitement. On these days I marvel at what a difference a public space can make in the life of a city.
And on days when there is nothing taking place, like today (an overcast Tuesday morning) as I look onto Fountain Square and write this blog, there are a few people sitting on the Square: some appear to be just having coffee with friends, a few are on their laptops, someone is taking a photo of a friend, others are just leisurely strolling across the Square. On days like this the Square is quiet and peaceful, almost contemplative. And it is on these days that I also marvel at what a difference a public space can make in the life of a city.
When I moved to Cincinnati in the late 60s I never went to Fountain Square. The few times I drove by it seemed to be a place to move through quickly…certainly not a place to linger and enjoy. There was never anything going on; at least I never saw anything and never heard about anything happening there. I’m sure things did occur there, but my perception was that it was a bit of a no-man’s land that looked like a fortress. And for many decades I despaired at what a difference a public space can make on the life of a city.
During the renovation of Fountain Square, too much time was spent talking about the capital investment in Fountain Square. Not enough time was spent talking about the tremendous social returns that a well-conceived public space can have in the life of a city.
The Square isn’t finished…hopefully it never will be. The events and amenities will evolve just as the society that uses them evolve. That’s exactly the dynamic that’s supposed to take place when a smart investment is made in bricks and mortar. And I, hopefully, will be able to continually marvel at what a difference a well conceived and well programmed public space can make in the life of a city.