Liberty Plaza: Experts say rethinking ways to get more people into park is more important than redesigning it
A redesign of Liberty Plaza's interior might not be as important as rethinking what kind of foot traffic generators are situated around the park, according to experts.
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
Previous report: Liberty Plaza: City leaders look for ways to end crime, vagrancy issues at park
While Ann Arbor city officials begin to consider a redesign of Liberty Plaza, experts point to the areas outside the park’s boundaries as catalysts for the plaza's improvement.
Mayor John Hieftje told AnnArbor.com there are plans in the works to redesign the park, including potentially bringing the park up to street level instead of having a two-tiered sunken design. While the changes may bring some improvements, experts believe the areas right around the park play a bigger role in any future improvement.
Amy Kuras, the city’s park planner, said the development around any urban space is what determines the success or failure of the space. Kuras said the immediate area around Liberty Plaza — the Liberty Square building and the Kempf House — is not a foot traffic generator. Whether the new underground Library Lot, and whatever development eventually is built atop it, changes the number of pedestrians at the corner remains to be seen.
Without establishments bringing in different groups of people, Liberty Plaza becomes a spot with a crowd of regulars who may not look kindly on outsiders, according to Kuras.
“I would love to see it used more by all kinds of people,” Kuras said. “How we arrive at that, I’m not sure what the answer is at this point. It’s not just changing the configuration of the park.”
Kuras compared Liberty Plaza to Sculpture Plaza, another concrete plaza at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Catherine Street. She said one of the reasons Sculpture Plaza has become a successful and popular area is because of the restaurants and shops that draw customers who utilize the space.
Kirk Westphal, an Ann Arbor documentarian who studied the city from a pedestrian’s point of view for a master’s degree in urban planning, said Sculpture Plaza is the “ideal situation” thanks to the businesses surrounding it.
Liberty Plaza has what Westphal calls a “key ingredient” to success: Foot traffic along Liberty Street. However, there are not enough people actually going into the plaza.
“Any urban space that lacks foot traffic through it can be problematic, and the key is getting a diversity of users,” Westphal said. “It’s not about keeping unemployed people out, it’s about making sure there are enough people in total using the space.”
When the park was completed in 1978, there was a restaurant in the 330 E. Liberty St. building next door, along with a book store in the bottom floor. Kuras said this brought more foot traffic into the plaza, but there were still problems from the start.
Some stemmed from the park's design — it's set below street level with bushes around the outside, allowing it to be more secluded than other downtown areas.
Westphal noted there’s a strong sense of community among regular park users. However, that sense of community among regulars can sometimes lead to a hostile attitude toward people who are not regularly coming to Liberty Plaza. He remembered a time during his graduate studies when he was filming Liberty Plaza for a video and was accosted within five minutes with questions about who he was, why he was filming the park and other general harassment.
That hostility from regulars can lead to equal hostility from community members who don’t regularly use the park.
Calls for a bigger police presence in the park have gotten louder recently, but Westphal said the fact police officers are needed in the plaza more than other areas is a sign of a failed space.
“The solution isn’t more police, it’s fixing the space,” he said.
“I’m not convinced if a police officer was stationed there permanently that it would be a well-used park,” he added. “And, where does that leave us?”
There’s at least one business owner in the area immediately around Liberty Plaza who wants to be a part of the solution.
Adam Baru, owner of Mani Osteria at 341 E. Liberty St., said he’s noticed Liberty Plaza getting worse since his restaurant opened in May 2011. Guests often comment on the area and brawls can sometimes be visible from the windows facing the plaza, he said.
“It gets to the point where it’s, in our mind, out of control,” Baru said.
Baru said he would love to set up a coffee cart or a food cart in Liberty Plaza, seeing those ideas as a way to bring a more diverse group of people to the area. He pointed toward the Bank of Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch program on Thursdays in the summer as an example of how Liberty Plaza can be used in a positive way.
“I would love to be over there with a coffee cart or a small, little restaurant outpost that would cause people to sit and socialize,” he said, “and use it as an urban park as it’s intended to be used, instead of just a gathering spot for illicit activities.”
More programming is a challenge in and of itself, according to Kuras.
She said many parks have their “regular programming” organically ingrained into them, causing those parks to be used frequently. She cited dog parks or community gardens as examples.
While the Sonic Lunch program is great, it only takes up one hour per day during 12 days in one season, she said.
“Unless someone came in with the sole job of programming the park on a daily basis, the best uses in parks are things like dog parks and community gardens where you don’t actively have to put on a program to get people to use it,” she said.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
bruno_uno
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 6:40 p.m.
I'm getting so sick of hearing about Mark's carts! Geez, this Mark guys sure get tons of marketing on this blog. And quiet frankly, I've heard enough about this documentary. Any "urban planner" can walk up and down a street, take video, and a call it a "documentary."
Ron Granger
Mon, Oct 1, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
I was hiking in the woods of northern michigan this weekend. I came upon a boarded up cabin, on a nice little pond. It was really very nice and quite picturesque.. Until I noticed discarded syringes on the ground. Apparently someone had been shooting up. It was a shocking and nasty discovery that completely ruined the scene. Was the cabin worse than Liberty Plaza? Arguably, yes. But it is a reminder that these problems are everywhere. So, maybe people sitting around in a park, some drinking out of bagged bottles, isn't such a big deal.
Attempted Voice of Reason
Mon, Oct 1, 2012 : 3:56 a.m.
I'm conflicted on how I feel for this park. I too have seen the obviously chemically-altered states of its regular users. I have heard the profanties, and seen the bags that carry all (or most) of what the regulars own. However, I have also made a point to eat lunch there, or read a book, and actually pay attention to what was happening. I've seen people shout sometimes, but never witnessed a fight (though I don't doubt they happen). I've occassionally been asked for money, but after they learned I wasn't an easy mark they stopped. I have never been physically threatened, and have never seen anything more illegal than sneaking illicit alcohol drinks (though again I don't doubt more sometimes happens). I have seen the "street people" (many are not homeless) talking about their days, and their relationships. I have seen them playing chess, and been asked once if I want to play. I have seen them converse, eat, look at computers, and read. Sometimes they shout, but generally at eachother. Sometimes they look like they are about to fight, but then slap each other on the back. And then I think: How am I different from them? I am loitering in the park too. That's what parks are for. I do feel uncomfortable if surrouned by "street people", but should I? Maybe, but they have the right to be there too. I think the best option might be to enforce a ban on begging in the park, and to be more vigilant at arresting obviously intoxicated and disruptive people. If we do that, it could make it a better place. Obviously not an easy problem. But maybe we can find a good solution that's fair to everyone.
tosviol8or
Mon, Oct 1, 2012 : 12:18 a.m.
Don't the panhandlers count as foot traffic? Or do they all have cars?
Mohawk
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 10:31 p.m.
It is simple -- make it non-smoking. That would get rid of all those "homeless" people who can afford $7 packs of cigarettes.
Ron Granger
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 11:24 p.m.
All the parks should be non-smoking.
golfer
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 10:28 p.m.
just put police in the area and stop the stuff that is going on. redesign is not going to help. does the word crosswalks come into mind. build them before thinking about will it work
Mick52
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 10:16 p.m.
Well if you want to be the homeless capital of the state you have to expect that when the homeless are not in the shelter they are going to congregate somewhere nearby. If they don't sit here, they will sit somewhere else and we will be reading another story just like this one for that place.
Lovaduck
Mon, Oct 1, 2012 : 1:57 a.m.
You're right. It used to be the Library!
Gardener1
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 6:59 p.m.
Something like Mark's carts might work well there.
Doug Coombe
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 6:40 p.m.
Food carts, Food carts, food carts.
Angry Moderate
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 4:54 p.m.
Be careful putting food carts there...last time I walked through Liberty Plaza, my carry-out box was stolen right out of my hands.
Angry Moderate
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 6:12 p.m.
Nick - leftovers from Aut Bar, why?
nickcarraweigh
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 6 p.m.
What kind of food?
Ron Granger
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 5:49 p.m.
Did you call the police?
FredMax
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
A number of successful parks, but there is just one that nobody wants to use. Perhaps a more logical solution would be to reabsorb the valuable real-estate of the latter for another use.
alterego
Mon, Oct 1, 2012 : 12:39 a.m.
There were buildings there before it became a part http://www.flickr.com/photos/70251312@N00/6527544295/
Jamie Pitts
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 4:30 p.m.
mtlaurel, definitely true, I was too focused on daytime. That area around the library is deserted at night, an in-between-place. If there is to be a plaza there, perhaps there should be a European-style outdoor cafe to attract people to the area. It would have to be covered in the winter though!
Jamie Pitts
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
There is definitely foot traffic, and it is on the rise. But it was not planned-for. Take a stroll diagonally from the corner of Liberty and Division toward the library, which is the traditional and obvious destination. Here's what it is like... and I'm hoping that folks like Kirk Westphal can offer solutions that the city will listen to: 1. For the first 50 feet, navigating the "plaza" is like playing a level of Diablo, but with seating. Why would they call this a plaza? This is a smelly, outdoor dungeon! 2. You pass Spark. About as pleasant as the back of a dull corporate building can be. How can something called Spark look so drab anyway? 3. You are guided through a parking lot toward another parking by two painted lines. It seems like there was no integrated plan for what to do with the humans who want to go to Mani Osteria. 4. Mercury-lamp-lit Eraserhead streetscape. COBO-center meets playskool parking car garage, with an enormous curved mouth. Would you walk your kids through this thing? Would you walk yourself through this thing? 5. After navigating the border checkpoint, you are greeted by a place that could be a park, plaza, or ice-skating rink in the winter. But it will take serious amount of activism to make it happen. Concrete tends to snuff out the community spirit.
mtlaurel
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 4:16 p.m.
do people walking up and down Liberty have the library as their destination....not necessarily true. for those going to the lib: bus riders and bikers [ being encouraged ]wouldn't walk the Plaza..... auto drivers parking in the underground lot or across from the lib or on Williams St wouldn't walk the Plaza...[branch lib use is up] Out of towners here to eat or be entertained in the evenings, which seems to be a group catered to ,wouldn't hold a lib card,and the lib is closed after 9pm anyway.
xmo
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
Why so much talk over the "Noble Homeless" at Liberty Plaza? We could help them lead productive lives but local Church and Community leaders like to have them around so that when they need to exploit them for political reasons they are handy! Look at what they did with Camp Take Notice, they did not solve the problem they only exploited the "Noble Homeless"!
jcj
Mon, Oct 1, 2012 : 2:13 a.m.
Soulful That has been covered ad nauseam.
Soulful Adrenaline
Mon, Oct 1, 2012 : 12:06 a.m.
I wonder how much it cost to put that fence all around camp take notice?!?! $$$$
a2cents
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.
I know, I know ! (raising hand)... Let's build another slab-sided brick student warehouse on the site. It'll generate revenue and taxes and puts lot's of people (sort of) in down town. AND the monies generated from the sale of the land can be used to replace the beloved Y. oh, well
mtlaurel
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
the "other "people-who are they? AnnArbor residents?-we have parks abounding-even apartmentdwellers likely have a neighborhood park. If an out of towner or someone is in downtown,I doubt they are looking for a "hang out in the park" experience. For going to music/movies/eating out/-I doubt a stopoff at the park is on the agenda. What part of the picture shown has to be changed? didn't the owner of Mani redo his restaurant? So he decided to install large windows and picked that location...hmmmm.....can't be too terrible-he's doing a 2nd restaurant-in fact-right next door!
Jack Campbell
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
The problem is that it is infested by drug addict vagrants. How about simply removing these people? Do we really need "experts" and a redesign of the park? Lets make panhandling illegal and stop the enabling.
Ron Granger
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 5:47 p.m.
The courts have generally held that asking someone for money is free speech. Do you have any evidence that they are all drug addicts or drunks?
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
Not taking this very seriously anymore. If the object is to change the type of people using Liberty Plaza, to remove panhandlers and increase foot traffic; then the answer is for Ann Arbor to make panhandling a capital offense and erect the gallows in Liberty Plaza. ;-) In fact, just erecting gallows in the plaza and putting up a sign announcing the new "capital offense for panhandling" sign would do the trick without actually executing anyone. You wanna see a couple thousand vagrants disappear overnight? - Just do that. Hiring some Hollywood special effects people with experience in "movie hangings" would probably be the best way to fake daily hangings and just using actors for every role would work. This is NOT a new idea. Years ago, the Washtenaw Sheriff's Dept. used the gimmick of fake arrests and incarceration as a way to raise money for charity. Someone would call them, they'd send real deputies to arrest the "mark" and the mark would then have to raise "bail" which went to the charity. I live in possibilities. – Emily Dickenson
jcj
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.
Not a bad idea. But if they were to post a sign saying everyday at noon there will be someone there to take them to job interviews the place would be evacuated!
Tom Whitaker
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
So according to the experts, the problem with Liberty Plaza is the lack of foot traffic from surrounding businesses, and the congregating of "regulars" who are "unemployed." While it's not mentioned in the article, the space next to Liberty Plaza, formerly occupied by the Community Newscenter bookstore, is now occupied by SPARK, a heavily taxpayer-funded economic development agency that is supposed to be using those millions to generate business and jobs in our community. How ironic.
Brian Kuehn
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 1:33 p.m.
I work downtown and occasionally eat lunch in this park. I like the idea of establishing a "Mark's Carts" kind of presence in the park. Regular foot traffic would make the area more attractive to those who work or visit downtown. Placing security cameras is also an idea that should be considered. I do not like the idea of a major re-construction of the park until other solutions are given a chance to work.
Mick52
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.
You know how much scrubbing it's going to take to make that place safe for food?
Brad
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
Good point on the reconstruction. I know this is a favorite of the "urban planners", but who do you think designed that park in the first place? The previous urban planners.
pseudo
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
I am becoming more and more skeptical by the minute of "urban planner" as any kind of "expert"...each time I see that phrase, it is followed by a statement that will negatively impact either my convenience or attractiveness to that building, street rubric or space. Its like urban planners belong to some secret club to suck cities into themselves to be some isolated island of ticky tacky housing (all the same) filled with soma-laden people walking from coffee shop to slave job. Bleh So, no, I don't think either re-designing Liberty Plaza or increasing foot traffic will solve the problems Liberty Plaza has. At some point, A2 leadership has to man-up and pass some harsh ordinances based on what their tax payers demand OR continue with the conflict.
nickcarraweigh
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 12:58 p.m.
If lots of bright-eyed people liked Liberty Plaza, they would use it. If you want the park in wide use among bright-eyed people, you need to change the park, because changing the people is impossible.
Heather
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 12:52 p.m.
I absolutely agree with the city park planner. Bringing in more people will change the dynamics of the park. That is just what happened with a little park in our neighborhood. About 10 years ago, we were starting to get problems with teenagers hanging out there. Gang graffiti started appearing in the pavillion along with a lot of broken glass and trash. New playground equipment was put into that park. The track was upgraded. New benches and trees were put in. Suddenly, the park had many people using it again. It is no longer an attractive place for gangs of kids to hang out and get into trouble.
Goober
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
What experts? Unless we hold our government accountable, they will do as they wish. Spending hard earned tax payer money to redesign a city plaza over-run by panhandlers is not the right approach. Do the experts see this?
Chase Ingersoll
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 12:39 p.m.
Who would not support live cameras being on that park 24/7 ?
4 Fingers
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : noon
You will not get rid of the homeless until you quit catering to them. How difficult of a concept is that? I still remember last year, after the occupy Wall Street people left they allowed someone to camp there who had nothing to do with the protests for a few months. Real observant government, eh?
motorcycleminer
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 10:21 a.m.
" Experts " ...give me a break..just like the DDA and prince john and the merry band these people havent got clue one....the talking heads of " OZ " thrive on stupidity which the good lord has seen fit to dump by the truck load here under the dome...more people ??? put a few cots and a porta john and call it the delonis annex ...