Public Square in 1912, facing east. The Old Stone Church is the third building on the left. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is on the right, in front of the Williamson Building, which was later demolished for the BP Tower.

The Old Stone Church, Society for Savings Building, and Key Tower

Public Square is the central plaza in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It takes up four city blocks; Superior Avenue and Ontario Street cross through it. Cleveland's three tallest buildings, Key Tower, the BP Tower and the Terminal Tower, face the square. Other Public Square landmarks include the 1855 Old Stone Church and the former Higbee's department store made famous in the 1983 film A Christmas Story.

A 125-foot monument to Civil War soldiers and sailors occupies the southeast quadrant of the square. City founder Moses Cleaveland and reformist mayor Tom L. Johnson each have statues on the square.

Public Square was part of the Connecticut Land Company's original plan for the city, which were overseen by Moses Cleaveland in the 1790s. The square is signature of the layout for early New England towns, which Cleveland was modeled after. While it initially served as a common pasture for settlers' animals, less than a century later Public Square was the height of modernity, when in 1879 it became the first street in the world to be lit with electric street lights, arc lamps designed by Cleveland native Charles F. Brush. The square was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1975.

A parking lot now faces the northwest quadrant of the square. A 12-story building, which was built on the spot in 1913, was demolished in 1990 to make way for the new Ameritrust Center, an 1,197-foot skyscraper designed by New York's Kohn Pedersen Fox.^[1] Before construction began, Ameritrust was acquired by Society Bank, which was also planning to construct and subsequently relocate to a new building on Public Square — the Key Tower (formerly known as the Society Center). Because Society did not need two skyscrapers, plans for the Ameritrust building across the square were scrapped.

U.S. routes 42, 322, and 422 and several Ohio state highways begin at Public Square. U.S. Route 6 passes through the square on Superior, and U.S. Route 20 enters from the west on Superior and leaves via Euclid Avenue.

Public Square is often the site of political rallies and civic functions, including a free annual Independence Day concert by the Cleveland Orchestra.

[edit] Re-Imagining of the Square

In collaboration with famed landscape architect James Corner, the city is planning an extensive re-imagining of the square. Currently, three proposals by Corner are being considered. The first, 'Forest It,' calls for closing Ontario Street and creating two large rectangles filled with trees native to Ohio, including maples and oaks. A large "Sun Lawn" clearing would be established on the northern rectangle, creating an area for concerts. The southern portion would feature shade gardens, fountains and "Renaissance Gardens." The trees will allow the city to play on its Forest City nickname.

The Second, 'Thread It,' would erect a manmade hill over the intersection of Superior Avenue and Ontario Street, with four main lobes rising from the four quadrants of the square. Pedestrians could climb the hill, rising 20 feet above grade. This proposal is the current, favored proposal.

The third, 'Frame It,' the concept involves framing the square with a giant lattice measuring 55 feet high and 40 feet thick. Vines would be trained up the sides of the trellis, creating a green wall around the square. A large aperture would leave the trellis open when it reaches the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The trellis will allow for solar panels to power surrounding lightening.^[2]

[edit] See also

• Tower City Center
• 55 Public Square
• The Mall

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Public Square

• Photos of Public Square at the Cleveland Virtual Roadtrip

Coordinates: 41°29′59″N 81°41′37″W / 41.499691°N 81.693649°W / 41.499691; -81.693649