Why A Public Square Matters
January 25, 2025 — This article is second in a series of reflections on the role of public spaces as places of meeting and civic identity. Public squares, in particular, provide the necessary space where individuals of like mind can come together to express their convictions and give voice to their deeply held concerns. A public square can also be the venue where the wider urban community can discover and celebrate a sense of common purpose and shared identity.
India Festival at Pioneer Courthouse Square
A LOSS OF PLACE
Our cities face numerous challenges. Some are obvious and visible such as the number of citizens facing another winter on the streets without adequate shelter, the epidemic of untreated mental illness and addiction, and the painfully slow recovery from the hollowing out of once vibrant downtown districts.
One challenge often overlooked amidst the others is the loss of a shared sense of place—who we are together as a city. To recover this sense of place we need a center, a physical space where we can come together to experience what we have in common. One remarkable resource for addressing this challenge is the central city square. While this central gathering place may go under a variety of names such as plaza (as in Santa Fe Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico) or park (as in Campus Martius Park in Detroit, Michigan), it is, I think, best understood as a square (as, famously, in Trafalgar Square in London).
Reflecting on my hometown of Portland, Oregon, I am struck by the crucial role that our central city square known as Pioneer Courthouse Square has played in strengthening our common life since its dedication in 1984.
FIVE REASONS WHY A CENTRAL CITY SQUARE MATTERS
There are, I believe, five principal reasons why a central city square matters. I will briefly present them, along with illustrations from our experience with Pioneer Courthouse Square.
1. The square is an icon. The central square represents the entire city as a focal point. It is a public space widely known by the residents of the city and is quickly discovered by visitors to the city.
If numbers tell a story, Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland is one of the most visited sites in Oregon with over ten million visitors during the course of a year.
2. The square is a lens. This works both positively and negatively. The way the central square is viewed becomes the way that the entirety of a downtown or even the city itself is seen.
Pioneer Courthouse Square has often showcased significant civic achievements and celebrations as well as the occasional challenges. These experiences—both positive and negative—have sometimes become the way the entire city has been portrayed in the national media.
3. The square is an orientation point. Adjacent to other major sectors of urban life and transit friendly, the central square becomes an important link and bridge to other centers of civic vitality.
Pioneer Courthouse Square provides a direct connection to retail, hospitality, government, higher education, entertainment, as well as cultural institutions and businesses. The square is also a place of regional transit convergence and houses a transit ticket office.
4. The square, as a public open space, is a multi-purpose venue. The central city square can be a generator of events to bring a community together, as a place for civic celebrations, performances, public grieving, protest, and cultural recognition. It is also a convenient informal meeting place for individuals and groups.
Pioneer Courthouse Square hosts a diverse array of over 300 programmed events each year, along with countless spontaneous gatherings. The winter holiday tree lighting can draw over 20,000 in attendance, amplified by over 75,000 live TV viewers.
5. The square can play a transformative role is the life of a city. One primary channel for this role of a central city square is through creative partnerships.
During the COVID pandemic when people were largely homebound, Pioneer Courthouse Square was transformed into “Polka Dot Courthouse Square” working with Portland’s creative community to host pop-up, socially distant performances. This provided a venue and funds for local artists to reach an audience during challenging times.
WHAT A PUBLIC SQUARE REQUIRES
The dynamic role that a central city square can play does not happen by accident. It is the result of creative staffing, sustainable funding, and the strong and effective support of elected officials. Now, more than ever, during these challenging times, we need vibrant central city squares to help create and sustain a shared sense of place and a dedication to what we hold in common.
