A trip to city hall in Boston, MA, might also include beer, ice cream, and mini golf at The Patios, a placemaking initiative launched this May at City Hall Plaza.
The city has entered into a three-year contract with an event organizer to revitalize the drab and underused plaza with seasonal programming and amenities.
The Patios joins several projects nationwide that are activating the once-staid plazas and gardens surrounding governmental buildings in city centers.
In another example, the city of Philadelphia, PA, used a placemaking grant from Southwest Airlines to enliven its city hall courtyard with a pop-up beer garden.
While the small city of Colleyville, TX, is developing a new community plaza in front of its city hall. Early designs feature a mixture of green space, outdoor seating, lighting, and water features.
More on activating municipal spaces appears in the July issue of Downtown Idea Exchange. Click to learn more about Downtown Idea Exchange and other resources for revitalizing downtowns and commercial corridors.