New York, NY - Downtown Syracuse, New York is bustling and humming in and around Clinton Square, where a new skating rink and fountain plaza is meeting with rave reviews. 18,000 people gathered in December, 2001 for a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, as loudspeakers piped Christmas music, groups of friends glided across the ice at the new rink.

'The new Clinton Square is the best thing that has happened in Syracuse in 50 years ... It works wonderfully as celebratory space with the reflecting pool drained. But the Square in its spare everyday beauty, with the reflecting pool and fountain, is what will win the hearts of citizens everywhere.' says one reader of the Post-Standard, The Syracuse, NY in response to the mass of newspaper headlines.

Clinton Square, the historic center of Syracuse, was an empty and difficult space just a few years ago. Traffic dominated the busy intersections of Erie Boulevard, Clinton and Salina Streets. Preliminary concept plans for a true civic square were drawn up by Project for Public Spaces, Inc., American's leading public spaces nonprofit, in conjunction with Clough, Habour & Associates LLP and SG Associates. Placemaking was key to the initial concept; the space was designed with the involvement of the local community, with the aim of creating a gathering place in the heart of town with events to spur economic and civic activity. The result is a spectacular civic plaza for festivals, farmers markets, concerts and ice-skating.

To discuss Placemaking at the Plaza, join the Public Spaces listserve


[email protected]

For further information on the redevelopment of Clinton Square visit:


http://www.syracuse.ny.us/syrmayor/ClintonSquare/

To search for articles on Clinton Square, visit http://www.syracuse.com/

Related Link: Project for Public Spaces

For more information contact:

Harriet Festing
Project for Public Spaces
153 Waverly Place, 4th Floor
New York
NY 10014-3872
U.S.A

Phone: 212 620 5660
Fax: 212 620 3821
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.pps.org