‘POP-UP PLAZA' COMING TO DAVIS SQUARE 9/9-9/11

‘POP-UP PLAZA’ BRINGS TACTICAL URBANISM TO SOMERVILLE BY DESIGN: DAVIS SQUARE

SOMERVILLE – Can food trucks, artist-made street furniture
and street performers help design the future of Davis Square’s urban landscape?
They will in Somerville at the Somerville by Design “Pop-Up Plaza” community
planning event, a City of Somerville initiative that will sprout from a parking
lot starting Monday, Sept. 9, in Davis Square.

The Pop-Up Plaza will set up shop for three full days,
Sept.9 through Sept. 11, in the Cutter Square parking lot (the small triangular
parking lot opposite Rosebud Diner on Elm St. in Davis Square) with moveable street
furniture, improvised landscaping, food trucks, public art, fabrication
demonstrations, and street performers. This temporary public plaza will
complement the temporary indoor public design studio in the vacant storefront
just across the way at 377 Summer St., where City staff and a team of design
consultants will be hosting a variety of day and evening events during a
three-day public charrette (a collaborative design event).

Temporary public space projects like this Pop-Up Plaza are
an example of “tactical urbanism,” an approach to urban planning and design
that uses low-cost, grassroots-oriented initiatives as a way to test ideas and
incorporate public input for larger projects. Pop-Up Plaza installations have
been used successfully in cities across the country, bringing attention to
locations that are often taken for granted. These projects also allow planners
and advocates to observe how people use public spaces and the features that can
create safe, cost-effective parks, plazas and streetscapes. In short, they mix
fun and culture with a community purpose.

“Somerville by Design makes planning fun and this is another
example of using creative ways to involve the community in crafting our vision
for Davis Square and the whole city,” Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said. “We make
every effort to engage residents in the planning process via public meetings
and the usual outreach. Now with this event, if you want to participate, all
you have to do is show up at the Pop-Up Plaza and enjoy the fun.”

“Participating in the design of Davis Square’s urban
landscape has never been easier or more enjoyable for people of all ages,” Ward
6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz said. “With so much foot traffic already in our
vibrant neighborhood, the Pop-Up Plaza is a unique way to examine how public
spaces in Davis Square can meet the needs of our residents. I hope everyone
stops in to enjoy this fun event and participate in the design studio by
lending their imaginations.”

The Davis Square Pop-Up Plaza will be open to the public:

·       
9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9

·       
9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10

·       
9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11  

A full list of participating vendors, demonstrations and
performances is available at www.somervillebydesign.com,
and the following food trucks will be on site:

·       
Tenoch Mexican (Mon.-Wed.,
All Day)

·       
Roxy's
Gourmet Grilled Cheese (Mon., 4
p.m.-9 p.m.)

·       
Mei Mei
Street Kitchen (Tues., 5 p.m.-9
p.m.; Wed., 5 p.m.-9 p.m.)

·       
Kick*ss
Cup Cakes (Mon. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.;
Wed. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

For
more information please visit www.somervillebydesign.com
or call the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development at
617-625-6600 ext. 2500.

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