Downtown Plaza Recovers from the 70s

New London, Connecticut, like many victims of the 1970s, was saddled with a harsh, ineffective public plaza at the heart of its downtown. Planners are working to return the plaza to its historic form.

1 minute read

August 21, 2008, 12:00 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur

"Longtime residents and visitors to New London remember the great open area known as the Parade in front of the historic railroad station. The Parade was a classic public plaza, a space for gatherings, a hub where people coming into the city by boat, train, bus or car could meet or be met.

But as was so often the case in Connecticut's cities, an unfortunate 1970s redesign of the area raised the plaza, crowded out usable space and separated the Parade from the rest of downtown.

Instead of having a public space that enhanced the area, the city was left with a smaller, less inviting and more dangerous space that detracted from the city's geographical integrity."

FULL STORY: Love the Parade

Thursday, August 21, 2008 in The Hartford Courant

Land Use Connecticut Public Space

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