President Clinton Avenue
Today was a big day for me. This spring, I was asked by my immediate supervisor to submt a report on President Clinton Avenue here in Little Rock for the American Planning Association's "Great Street" competition. The APA announced today that President Clinton Avenue was selected as one of the ten Great Streets in America out of 200 submissions for the three categories possible. I worked really, really hard on this project and learned a lot about the city's history in the process. I am very proud that my street was selected. With a career in planning, it is not every day that you can actually lay your hands on something and say 'I did good work today.' Most days feel a lot the same and don't really produce many tangible results. But today we had a framed certificate, and the vice mayor, and the Arkansas APA chapter president, and tv cameras, and my dad. It was a nice ray of sunshine in a sometimes hum-drum job.
Today was a big day for me. This spring, I was asked by my immediate supervisor to submt a report on President Clinton Avenue here in Little Rock for the American Planning Association's "Great Street" competition. The APA announced today that President Clinton Avenue was selected as one of the ten Great Streets in America out of 200 submissions for the three categories possible. I worked really, really hard on this project and learned a lot about the city's history in the process. I am very proud that my street was selected. With a career in planning, it is not every day that you can actually lay your hands on something and say 'I did good work today.' Most days feel a lot the same and don't really produce many tangible results. But today we had a framed certificate, and the vice mayor, and the Arkansas APA chapter president, and tv cameras, and my dad. It was a nice ray of sunshine in a sometimes hum-drum job.
Here is a copy of a little press release that will be in our Arkansas APA newsletter (for those who don't already get it, haha)... Channel 7 and Channel 11 had cameras there, so maybe you will see it on the news tonight.
On October 7, 2009, the American Planning Association (APA) designated President Clinton Avenue as one of 10 Great Streets for 2009 by APA's Great Places in America program. APA Great Places exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.
President Clinton Avenue is singled out by APA for Little Rock’s strategic vision, plan and follow through during the past 25 years to transform the boarded up and abandoned warehouses along what used to be East Markham Street into a lively entertainment and museum district. Today President Clinton Avenue is a unique part of Little Rock, an avenue defined by its historic character and revitalized surroundings -- the city’s only walkable entertainment district.
Through Great Places in America, APA recognizes unique and authentic characteristics found in three essential components of all communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live everyday, places that are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. Such places are defined by many characteristics, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement.
The story behind today’s President Clinton Avenue began a decade before Bill Clinton was inaugurated president in 1993. Little Rock prepared a downtown development plan in 1982 that called for remaking the abandoned warehouses along the Arkansas River into an active entertainment district with shops, restaurants, nightlife and museums.
Initial steps implementing the plan started in 1986 with development of the 33-acre Julius Breckling Riverfront Park and amphitheater. That was followed in 1991 with construction of the 10,000-square-foot River Market, which was part of a $300 million riverfront development that now houses, among other things, a farmer’s market every Tuesday and Saturday.
Coupled with a $1.5 million bond voters approved in 1994 for walkway improvements and the 1995 East Markham Streetscape Master Plan, the street was on its way to realizing the 1982 vision. Revitalization efforts along East Markham Street accelerated even more in 1997 when President Clinton announced that his William J. Clinton Presidential Center, including a library and archives, would be located at the street’s eastern end. Since the official renaming of the street as President Clinton Avenue 2001, the city has attracted $1.5 billion in additional economic investments.
Designed by New York City architect James Polshek who worked with the renowned modernist architect I.M. Pei., the presidential library stands out from all points along the avenue. The design, which mimics elements of the I-30 overpass adjacent to center, is inspired by Clinton’s vision of a “bridge to the future.” Demonstrating a commitment to environment sustainability, the library is LEED Platinum with solar panels, a green roof, bike racks and floors made of recycled rubber tires.
Other improvements completed along the avenue since the presidential library opened in November 2004 include the $20 million River Rail electric trolley that connects to North Little Rock on the other side of the Arkansas River.
City of Little Rock officials, local news media, and APA members attended a press release on October 7, 2009 to recognize this achievement and the work of Little Rock planners in helping to create this great street.
For more information about President Clinton Avenue, as well as lists of the 2009 APA 10 Great Neighborhoods, 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Public Spaces, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces.
President Clinton Avenue is singled out by APA for Little Rock’s strategic vision, plan and follow through during the past 25 years to transform the boarded up and abandoned warehouses along what used to be East Markham Street into a lively entertainment and museum district. Today President Clinton Avenue is a unique part of Little Rock, an avenue defined by its historic character and revitalized surroundings -- the city’s only walkable entertainment district.
Through Great Places in America, APA recognizes unique and authentic characteristics found in three essential components of all communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live everyday, places that are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. Such places are defined by many characteristics, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement.
The story behind today’s President Clinton Avenue began a decade before Bill Clinton was inaugurated president in 1993. Little Rock prepared a downtown development plan in 1982 that called for remaking the abandoned warehouses along the Arkansas River into an active entertainment district with shops, restaurants, nightlife and museums.
Initial steps implementing the plan started in 1986 with development of the 33-acre Julius Breckling Riverfront Park and amphitheater. That was followed in 1991 with construction of the 10,000-square-foot River Market, which was part of a $300 million riverfront development that now houses, among other things, a farmer’s market every Tuesday and Saturday.
Coupled with a $1.5 million bond voters approved in 1994 for walkway improvements and the 1995 East Markham Streetscape Master Plan, the street was on its way to realizing the 1982 vision. Revitalization efforts along East Markham Street accelerated even more in 1997 when President Clinton announced that his William J. Clinton Presidential Center, including a library and archives, would be located at the street’s eastern end. Since the official renaming of the street as President Clinton Avenue 2001, the city has attracted $1.5 billion in additional economic investments.
Designed by New York City architect James Polshek who worked with the renowned modernist architect I.M. Pei., the presidential library stands out from all points along the avenue. The design, which mimics elements of the I-30 overpass adjacent to center, is inspired by Clinton’s vision of a “bridge to the future.” Demonstrating a commitment to environment sustainability, the library is LEED Platinum with solar panels, a green roof, bike racks and floors made of recycled rubber tires.
Other improvements completed along the avenue since the presidential library opened in November 2004 include the $20 million River Rail electric trolley that connects to North Little Rock on the other side of the Arkansas River.
City of Little Rock officials, local news media, and APA members attended a press release on October 7, 2009 to recognize this achievement and the work of Little Rock planners in helping to create this great street.
For more information about President Clinton Avenue, as well as lists of the 2009 APA 10 Great Neighborhoods, 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Public Spaces, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces.
6 comments:
Congratulations Eve! I'm glad your efforts got recognised.
Huzzah! Well done, Eve! xoxo, Bekah
this is so cool! great job!
yay eve! That is so excellent. Congratulations! - Anna
hey that's awesome - congrats!
Congratulations, Eve! Spectacular job--how exciting to be responsible for something so big.
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