Editor’s Note: This story is part of a month-long series that highlights 31 ideas included in the “Mansfield Rising” plan. The 67-page document was created by 15 local leaders after attending the South by Southwest Conference last March in Austin, Texas.
Idea 7: Invest in a year-round multi-use public space
Aside from the gazebo in Central Park, there is no place for people to gather downtown on a consistent basis.
Creating a structure to provide shelter from the weather is needed. This gathering place could be used for farmer’s markets, community meals, performances and food trucks. The structure must be intentionally inclusive of all cultures, ethnicities, ages and abilities.
It must also include public restrooms that can accommodate people with mobility issues and families with young children. Since the closing of the Central Park restrooms in the 1980s, there have been no public bathrooms downtown. It is recommended to install a minimum of four restrooms with separate entrances to each stall from a well-lit, highly visible entry point to maintain safety.
The structure should include ceilings high enough to drive a food truck under and electrical outlets for generators. Ample seating whether fixed or movable, will create a space that is inviting for events and food trucks. It also would provide an additional gathering space.
The structure could expand to four seasons if it was built to include garage doors. Other long-range items would be a stage for performances to provide an alternate location for performances from the Brickyard.
Cost: $500,000 to start then make the space replicable so it can grow if usage shows it’s needed. Example of Newark, OH involved a $3.1M project with three pavilions, buried electrical lines, installed restrooms and brick pavers in the district. Design suggestion: similar to the Carrousel building.
Timeline: 12-18 months to determine location, ownership and build could occur in 2020 or 2021. This could serve as a space for other action items and would be more important once the local microfarm initiative is established.
Partners: City of Mansfield Parks Department. The Parks Department cares for multiple parks throughout the city. Many of these parks contain restrooms, picnic tables and trash cans. The request to the City would be for general maintenance and upkeep of this space with regards to cleaning restrooms, emptying trash cans and providing general maintenance to the structure and the items it contains. The cost to increase their maintenance would be minimal to their budget. There would be partnerships needed between the City of Mansfield and downtown businesses and organizations to develop programming for this new structure. Ownership of the space would need to be determined as it may stretch city resources to add a new space. Also, consideration on liability is necessary.
A lighter, quicker, cheaper version of this structure could create an inviting space for food trucks with a variety of ethnic backgrounds and foods.
There are limited options of food variety among the downtown restaurants. Many people have expressed a desire to see more food trucks in the downtown area that offer food choice options during off-hours and special events.
Columbus is an example of a community that provides engaging opportunities to enjoy various foods. Every year the state capital has a Food Truck Festival that attracts thousands of people. This is a great idea for an annual event but there is also support to have a dedicated food truck space in Downtown Mansfield.
The timeline for this project can be fairly short once a space is identified and secured. Planning of events may take longer depending on partners that are involved.
Cost: There is minimal cost to convene operational food truck vendors in a common space. Costs may include but are not limited to tables, chairs, picnic benches and other necessary items to make the space more inviting.
Partners: Current food truck owners, City of Mansfield Codes and Permits Department, Downtown restaurant owners, food entrepreneurs, artists, building owners, Downtown Mansfield, Inc., Phoenix Brewing Company.
Timeline: The timeline to organize this space can be as short as six months
Join us for a live discussion of the “Ideas of March” series and the “Mansfield Rising” plan on Thursday, April 4.
• Municipal Lot, owned by the City of Mansfield: this is the preferred location due to its proximity to the Brickyard, Carrousel and is a high-traffic, high-visibility area
• Parking lot between Walnut Street and Main Street and Third and Fourth Streets
• Parking lot near the entrance to South Park Street from Main Street
• Alley north of the Municipal Lot
• North and South Park Street utilizing on-street parking and build coverage on the park side. This could increase the usage of Central Park as a gathering space.
• Diamond Street across the street and south from Phoenix Brewing Co.
