Public Square, Cleveland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cleveland Public Square
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 Location in Cleveland
Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Superior Avenue and Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44106 |
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| Built | 1857-1861 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001361 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1975 |
Public Square is a large, open space in the middle of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It's like the city's main gathering spot. This square was planned way back in 1796 by Moses Cleaveland, who helped start the city. It was designed to look like the town squares found in old New England towns.
Public Square is still a very important part of Cleveland's center. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it's recognized as a special place worth protecting.
The square is about 10 acres big. It used to have two main streets, Superior Avenue and Ontario Street, crossing right through its center. Cleveland's three tallest buildings, Key Tower, 200 Public Square, and the Terminal Tower, all face Public Square. Other famous spots nearby include the Old Stone Church, built in 1855, and the building that used to be the Higbee's department store. This store became famous in the 1983 movie A Christmas Story. Today, that building is home to the Jack Cleveland Casino.
In 2016, the city made some big changes to Public Square. They wanted to make it easier for people to walk around and enjoy the space. Most cars now drive around the square instead of through it. The part of Ontario Street that went through the square was removed. Superior Avenue was rebuilt, but now only buses can use it, with stops for many different bus lines.
The northern part of the square is mostly green grass and trees. It has a statue of a famous mayor named Tom L. Johnson. The southern part is a paved area with a cafe and a cool water feature. Here, you'll also find the tall Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument and a statue of the city's founder, Moses Cleaveland.
Contents
History of Public Square
Public Square was part of the very first plan for Cleveland. This plan was created by the Connecticut Land Company in the 1790s, with Moses Cleaveland leading the way. The design of the square was inspired by old New England towns.
At first, Public Square was used as a place for settlers' animals to graze. But less than 100 years later, it became very modern. In 1879, it was the first street in the world to be lit up with electric streetlights! These special lights were arc lamps, invented by a Cleveland native named Charles F. Brush. The square was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1975.
Many important buildings have faced Public Square over the years. Some of these include 55 Public Square (built in 1958), 75 Public Square (1915), the Society for Savings Building (1890), the Metzenbaum Courthouse (1910), and the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel (1918).
Public Square is often used for big events and gatherings. People come here for political rallies and other city functions. The Cleveland Orchestra even holds a free concert here every year on Independence Day. In 1986, Public Square was the starting point for Balloonfest '86. Nearly 1.5 million balloons were released from the square, setting a world record!
Modern Updates: The 2010s Renovation
Around 2009, the city started thinking about how to make Public Square even better. They worked with a landscape architect named James Corner to come up with new ideas. In 2011, Cleveland's mayor, Frank G. Jackson, suggested a plan to redesign the square. His idea was to close Superior Avenue and Ontario Street to traffic, making a huge green space in the middle.
On October 23, 2014, a plan was approved. It closed Ontario Street but kept Superior Avenue open for buses. The plan also made sure the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument remained a key feature.
Construction on the project began on March 9, 2015. The newly renovated Public Square officially opened on June 30, 2016. The new design was even shown off during the Cleveland Cavaliers championship parade, which was a big event for the city.
At first, buses didn't use Superior Avenue as planned. But to avoid losing a lot of money from grants, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority agreed to run buses along it by March 2017. A cafe called Rebol also opened in the southwestern part of the square in July 2016. In July 2017, an episode of the TV show American Ninja Warrior was filmed in Public Square.
Getting Around Public Square
Public Square is surrounded by several streets. These include East Roadway and West Roadway on the sides, and Rockwell Avenue and South Roadway at the top and bottom.
Many important roads meet at Public Square. It's where several U.S. and state routes begin or end. For example, US 6 passes through the square on Superior Avenue.
Public Transportation Options
Public Square is very close to the Tower City transit station. This station is a major hub for public transportation in Cleveland. Three different train lines run by the RTA serve Tower City.
The HealthLine, which is a special bus line that acts like a train, also ends at Public Square. It travels along Euclid Avenue, making it easy to get to and from the square using public transport.
Images for kids
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Public Square in 2016, looking west. You can see the special bus and bike lanes.
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The north side of Public Square in 2012.
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Students protesting for climate action in Public Square on March 15, 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Public Square (Cleveland) para niños
