Group 5 - Douglas Street from 8th to 13th Streets


What the Place Game Team Liked Best

The group liked the skyline and cityscape where tall buildings are still visible, but removed from the Mall and the historic architecture in the surrounding area.
They appreciated the street canopy created by the mature trees and the tree line along the Mall with the contrast of very green and very urban spaces
The Place Gamers also liked the Mall as a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors as well as the Mall’s decorative arch and easy access from all directions.

What Could Be Improved

They disliked the sunken aspect of park and the lack of visual access to the Old Market from the north, such that pedestrians don’t even know that the park is there. They felt the Mall isn’t fun or inviting and area isn’t well maintained
They didn’t like the lack of access from the north to the south except through 10th and 13th Streets for pedestrians, especially the barrier created by traffic flow. They felt the interaction of street, sidewalks and park left much to be desired.

Short Term

  • Introduce traffic calming by make the street less straight.
  • Improve signage to area attractions.
  • Create portals going into the park.
  • Add interactive, inviting seating and food vendors in the Mall.
  • Improve and add crosswalks and re-stripe pavement markings.
  • Add new lamp posts and flower planters.
  • Put in diagonal parking.

Long Term

  • Create a large plaza at the west end of the Mall to connect the Holland Performing Arts Center, Paxton, Kiewit Conference Center and the Library.
  • Install an ice skating rink as a key attraction.
  • Fill in part of the stream and raise Mall to street level to create open green space and connectivity between attractions.
  • Use the potential for Central Park-like street from Douglas to Farnam on 11th Street (the street is not really set up for cars, but could be).
  • Reconfigure or eliminate the wall surrounding the Mall.
  • Improve access from the Old Market to the Holland Performing Arts Center with pedestrian bridge across the Mall at 11th Street.
  • Install more public art in the area.
  • Add traffic calming elements like stoplights, etc., standardize and level out sidewalks.
  • Encourage small business in to the area.
  • Allow the Mall to spread outside of its restraints into the street/sidewalk.
  • Provide green space in front of the Holland Performing Arts Center to connect with south Douglas and the Mall.

[Comments and Suggestions]