West Palm Beach Public Realm Acton Plan by WestPalmDDA

West Palm Beach

Public Realm Action Plan

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

People are key! And even though cultures and climates are different from city to city, we all experience our environment from the same starting point: THE HUMAN DIMENSION!

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

People need stimuli that appeal to all their senses & environments that make them feel comfortable.

“1,000 stimuli per hour. One for every four seconds.”

But unfortunately not all environments invite us to spend time outside and enjoy our cities.

-Gehl / Gemzøe

5 Senses

72°

Eye Level

Average walking speed 5 km/h - 3 m/h

4 seconds

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

What kind of city do you want?

People walk at roughly the same speed, but not all our urban environments invite for walking 3 mph environments: Human scale Social and inviting All senses are activated Versus 50 mph environments: Large scale / undefined Designed for speed and efficiency Uninviting Unpleasant sensory experiences

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

STREETS ARE A CITYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LARGEST CANVAS ACCOUNTING FOR

80%

OF OUR PUBLIC REALM

And using them is a central part of our daily lives. But often walking, biking and taking transit, is compromised by design based on efficiency and speed. 21st century street design put people first! The 21st century street is a place. Source: NACTO, http://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/

Introduction Why a Public Realm Action Plan? An action plan is... • a plan that builds a city vision from eye level • a framework to guide investment in the public realm • a plan that tests strategies through pilot projects

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

West Palm Beach has a LOT going for it. ...A walkable downtown core that draws people from all over the city

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

...Historic neighborhoods and destinations

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

...A city chock full of amazing public art (with more on the way)

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

...A beautiful sunny climate, and surrounded by water.

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

West Palm Beachers themselves might just be the city's greatest asset.

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

Many well-attended events bring people together

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

There's a love for the quirky and the arts!

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

There is a committed core group of civicminded folks ready to come volunteer for their city

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

The City of West Palm Beach has a clear vision

West Palm Beach will be a vibrant, resilient, attractive and safe city, recognized as a model community which: • Takes pride in history, diversity and environment • Promotes and enjoys community respect, pride and cooperation • Provides visionary and creative governmental leadership • Is a celebrated cultural and recreational destination • Values its public employees and recognizes their achievements The City of West Palm Beach partners with the community to preserve and enhance the quality of life through providing efficient and effective community-focused services.

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

WPB is the 3rd largest city in the region West Palm Beach Pop: 103,588 (2015) Area: 56.55 sq mi Density: 1.880 / sq mi

Growing population

Popular destination

100,343 people (2010) 108,896 people (2016)

6.9 million tourists visited Palm Beach County in 2015

8.5% increase

10% increase year over year Fort Lauderdale Pop: 173,570 (2015) Area: 34.7 sq mi

Miami Pop: 440,989 (2015) Area: 35.68 sq mi

Today most people drive

But increase in transit ridership

77% drive, 8% carpool 3% transit 4% walk 1% bike

3.64 million rides (2010) 4.39 million rides (2014)

City mode share 2015 Sources: Census, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/tourism/fl-pbc-2015-tourism-record-20160210-story.html, http://www.palmbeachmpo.org/static/sitefiles/meeting/2016_FEB_18_SFRTA_Annual_Update1.pdf

20% increase

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

Livable cities are in high demand This matters in the 21st century, where cities need to compete for talent, and where livable neighborhoods need to be accessible to all people.

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

81% OF MILLENIALS

76% ACTIVE BOOMERS

Say affordable and convenient alternatives to the car is at least somewhat important when deciding where to live and work

Source: Investing in Place (National Poll), APA, 2014

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

56% OF MILLENIALS

46% ACTIVE BOOMERS

Would prefer to live someday in a walkable community, whether urban, suburban, or a small town

Source: Investing in Place (National Poll), APA, 2014

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

74% OF MILLENIALS

2/3 OF ALL RESPONDENTS

Believe investing in schools, transportation choices, and walkable areas is a better way to grow the economy than recruiting companies

Source: Investing in Place (National Poll), APA, 2014

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

Good urban design makes people healthier! Findings across 15 cities and 6 continents suggests urban planning can reduce the health burden of the global physical inactivity pandemic.

Source: Physical activity in relation to urban environments in 14 cities worldwide: a crosssectional study. James F Sallis, Jens Troelsen, et al. Lancet Medical Journal - 2016

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

To create a healthy and livable city with a vibrant public life you need to invest in the public realm.

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

West Palm Beach already knows this, and things are moving.

Parks M aster Plan

t i l i ob

n a l yP

d n o B

s e u Iss

Brightli

PUBLIC LIFE! Strate gic Pl an 20162020

Shore to

Core

e g n u et Lo

Suns

And many more...

Sunset Park Improvements Estimated $80,000

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

Spruce Street Resurfacing Estimated $1,070,000

Sullivan Park Renovation Estimated $170,000

A lot of investments and projects are bringing change to the built environment in West Palm Beach

Currie Park Improvements Estimated $500,000

Pleasant City Improvements Estimated $200,000

Lakeside Court: N Dixie to Flagler Estimated $190,000

Gaines Park Improvements Estimated $1,000,000

>$1 billion in development projects downtown

Providencia Park Neighborhood Lighting Improvements Estimated $350,000

$40M and $60M Bond Issues for Public Space Tamarind Safety Improvements (Signage): PBL to Flagler Estimated $25,000

One West Palm 30-Story Residential and Office Tower

Banyan: Tamarind to Olive Estimated $1,7700,00

Northwest Area Estimated $2,000,000

Aloft West Palm Beach Hotel and Commercial

Olive Island: 6th to Quadrille Estimated $300,000 Canvas Outdoor Museum Site

PD Bldg Improvements Estimated $700,000

Old City Hall Development Helen Wilks site

PD Bldg Roof Replacement Estimated $800,000

Centennial Fountain Repairs Estimated $1,000,000

PD Bldg Generator Replacement Estimated $1,500,000

All Aboard Florida (Brightline) Station Service Begins 2017

Transit Village Mixed-Use Residential (2017)

The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Office Space

IT Infrastructure Estimated $6,000,000

Tower Proposed - Christian Science Church existing on site Complex Improvements Estimated $25,650,000

>$1 billion in development projects: http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/business/ real-estate/one-west-palm-250-million-office-condo-hotel-project-wins-approval/ GMvSfuC6rAPJQ5Vb1fmrZL/

Development Project

Bond Project

Howard Park Improvements Estimated $480,000

Wildermere Rd Improvements: Dixie to Olive Estimated $540,000

The Bristol 25-Story Residential Tower

Introduction / Why a Public Realm Action Plan?

These investments make now the perfect time to create a public life driven vision for the public realm in West Palm Beach.

Building a Vision From Eye Level Process

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

Step 1:

Taking Stock of Public Space and Public Life in West Palm Beach You need to know where you are to know where you're going. Photo: Sushi Films

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process Guiding Question:

What are the existing patterns of Public Space and Public Life in West Palm Beach?

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

Northwood Spruce Currie Park

Hurricane Memorial Park Coleman Park

21st St 20th St

Blum Park

19th St

Study areas The PS/PL studies were conducted in selected streets and public spaces within a larger study area.

15th St

Tamarind

The engagement process as well as future investments (bond measures) guided the selection.

7th St

Sunset Lounge N Rosemary Ave Quadrille

3rd St

Flagler

Banyan Tri-Rail Station area

Downtown Waterfront

LEGEND

CityPlace* Okeechobee Blvd

Public Space Survey Public LIfe Survey (12/16) Public Life Survey (01/17)

Howard Park Diana Place

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

We looked at Public Space Quality Facade Quality & Ground Floor Activity

Vacancies

Obstacles

Seating

Shade

Lighting

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

Place Inventory mappings What are existing design features in key public spaces in the city?

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

We observe how people move through the city Walking

Cycling

Walking distance and time

Crossing the street, jaywalking, and signal timing

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

How people spend time Standing

Lying Down

Bench Seating

Waiting for Transit

Cafe Seating

Secondary Seating

Children Playing

Commercial Activity

Cultural Activity

Physical Activity

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

And we look at WHO is there... Age

Gender

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

Why collect data?

To find human stories To inform strategy and design To provide evidence To make objective choices To benchmark progress To discover new opportunities To create urgency for change

023 8

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

We listened to you. Guiding Question:

What kind of life do you want to cultivate in West Palm Beach?

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

Favorite Places Engagement Understand what people love and care about in WPB, what they would like to see more of, what streets they use, where they never go, and why.

Focus Group Interviews Understand potentials and challenges in relation to specific user groups and their current and desired public realm user patterns.

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

What routes do you take around the city?

What inspires you from other places?

What's your favorite place in West Palm Beach?

FLAGLER DRIVE

ONCE DE LEON AVE

DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

UCE AVENUE

ADWAY / HIGHWAY 1

AVE PINEWOOD

AVE

AVE ROSEMARY

DIVISION

E TAMARIND

24TH STREET

INTRACOASTAL

BETHESDA TERRACE NORTHWOOD ROAD

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

23RD STREET 23RD STREET

N TAMARIND AVE

22ND STREET

23RD STREET

22ND STREET

PONCE DE LEON AVE

N DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

Northwood (Harold's Coffee & Relish)

21ST ST

N FL

INTRACOASTAL

LE RD RIVE

20TH STREET

BROWARD AVE

EAST PARKWAY

PICADILLY ST

20TH ST

19TH ST

GRANT ST

BUTLER ST

N DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

ADAMS ST

N FL

N TAMARIND AVENUE

WINDSOR AVE

18TH ST

PINE ST

AGLE R DR IVE

Listening locations

STATE ST

SPRUCE AVENUE

N TAMARIND AVENUE

Coleman Park 17TH ST

INTRACOASTAL

17TH ST

LILAC COURT

N LAKESIDE COURT FLAGLER DRIVE

16TH ST

Favorite Places • 8 Meetings in locations in six neighborhoods • 204 responses to an online survey

S LAKESIDE COURT 15TH ST 15TH ST

15TH ST N DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

SPRUCE AVE

14TH ST 14TH ST

14TH ST HENRIETTA AVE

N SAPODILLA AVE

DIVISION AVE

DOUGLASS AVE

N TAMARIND AVENUE

WINDSOR AVE

INTRACOASTAL

13TH ST N FL AGLE IVE

R DR

PALM BEACH LAKE BLVD PALM BEACH LAKES BLVD

11TH ST

GLER N FLA

N OLIVE AVE / FEDERAL HIGHWAY

INTRACOASTAL

DRIVE

N DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

HENRIETTA AVE

N ROSEMARY AVE

10TH ST

ROUTE 1

N RAILROAD AVE

9TH ST

8TH ST 8TH ST HENRIETTA AVE

EUCALYPTUS ST

N FL IVE

6TH ST

INTRACOASTAL

7TH ST

LER

W RAIL

N ROSEMARY AVE

N SAPODILLA AVE

DIVISION AVE

DOUGLASS AVE

6TH ST

N OLIVE AVE / FEDERAL HIGHWAY

N DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

7TH ST

N TAMARIND AVENUE

ROAD AVE

TO FLAGLER MEMORIAL BRIDGE

QUADRILLE STREET

5TH ST

Historic Northwest

5TH ST

3RD ST

N QUADRILLE BLVD

2ND ST

FIRST STREET

Clematis - Subculture

4TH ST

INTRACOASTAL

3RD ST

2ND ST

FIRST STREET

1ST ST

NARCISSUS AVE.

S DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

CLEMATIS STREET

CLEMATIS ST. S OLIVE AVE / FEDERAL HIGHWAY

DATURA STREET

S ROSEMARY AVE

S SAPODILLA AVE

S TAMARIND AVENUE

DATURA STREET

EVERNIA STREET

MAT

ST.

DATURA ST

Clematis By Night EVERNIA STREET

INTRACOASTAL

EVERNIA ST.

S QUADRILLE BLVD

TriRail Station

N CLEMATIS ST.

S FLAGLER DRIVE

CLEMATIS STREET

CLEAR LAKE

N FLAGLER DRIVE

N OLIVE AVE / FEDERAL HIGHWAY

N ROSEMARY AVE

N SAPODILLA AVE

DIVISION AVE

DOUGLASS AVE

N DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

4TH ST N TAMARIND AVENUE

Focus group interviews • Tri-rail station, transit rider interviews • Northwood, focus group interview with community members and organisers from neighborhoods north of Banyan

FERN STREET

FERN ST.

GARDENIA STREET

HIBISCUS ST

S ROSEMARY AVE

S SAPODILLA AVE

Howard Park IRIS STREET

INTRACOASTAL S FLAGLER DRIVE

S TAMARIND AVENUE

HIBISCUS ST

S OLIVE AVE / FEDERAL HIGHWAY

S DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

AUSTRALIAN AVENUE

GARDENIA STREET

TANGLEWOOD COURT IRIS ST S QUADRILLE BLVD

INTRACOASTAL

TRINITY PLACE

OKEECHOBEE BLVD

CHASE ST

LAKEVIEW AVE S OLIVE AVE / FEDERAL HIGHWA

OKEECHOBEE BLVD

S DIXIE HIGHWAY / ROUTE 1

OKEECHOBEE BLVD

S FLAGLER DRIVE

LAKEVIEW AVE

ROUTE 704 TO I-95

TO ROYAL PARK BRIDGE

Building a Vision from Eye Level / Process

Thank you to everyone who came out for listening sessions and assisted with collecting all this data!

PSPL Findings Survey & Engagement Data

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Meeting people where they are:

What we heard

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

47 Northwood Village

Favorite Places are concentrated downtown, especially along the Clematis spine...

"Where's your Favorite Place in West Palm Beach?"

Mandel Public Library Clematis Subculture

â&#x20AC;˘ But people also pointed to places in Northwood and Coleman Park, and places south of downtown like Howard Park. â&#x20AC;˘ The waterfront, especially adjacent to downtown, was particularly popular.

City Place LEGEND: FAVORITE PLACES 31-33 mentions 15-17 mentions 1 mention

Howard Park

Flagler Green

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Favorite and less favorite routes show stark divisions on where people like to go and where they avoid • The North is stigmatized.

"Which routes do you take around the city and which do you avoid?"

• Flagler is a favorite route, but only certain sections. • Preferred routes drop off west of Rosemary downtown.

LEGEND: FAVORITE ROUTES 15 uses

15 avoids

7 uses

7 avoids

1 use

1 avoid

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Crime came up frequently in engagement conversations

“I avoid Dixie at night - once a guy grabbed me there. There are issues with street walkers and drug dealing”

“Howard Park is my favorite place because I love that I can leave my kids here and it feels safe”

“We need light on Tamarind - it’s so dark”

“I don’t walk a lot because I’m worried about safety”

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

When it comes to public space, West Palm Beachers value... Natural Beauty & Greenery

Relaxing

Food & Drink

Comfortable Microclimate

Walkability & Accessibility

Uniqueness & Artistry

Sociability

Eventfulness

Liveliness & Fun

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

We asked about how transit users get around. Most people we spoke with paired their TriRail trip with another mode of transportation, either car, bike, or bus.

I take my bike on the train.

In WPB you need a car to use public transit.

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Partially because the walking experience around the station is so tough.

52 Crossing Tamarind is hard but that's not all. I walk to work at the convention center. Crossing Okeechobee there's a LONG wait and you need to run to make it across. Like playing dodgeball!

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Buses are often delayed, and low frequencies pose challenges.

"I got fired once because the bus delay made me so late." -Transit Rider

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

People complained about the lack of information at bus stops and the TriRail station

Just last week I had to wait an hour for a train and there was no info at the station.

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Public Space Public Life Survey Highlights

What we saw

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Downtown is very compact, meaning you could walk everywhere. Seriously. It takes less than 20 minutes to walk from one side of downtown West Palm Beach to the other.

5 min

10 min

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

But most streets are not designed for pedestrians and cyclists...

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

59 Northwood

Pockets of the city have vibrant or active facades, which make for an engaging pedestrian environment...

LEGEND: FACADES Vibrant Active

Tamarind from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

60 Northwood

But most facades are dull or inactive, which can make walking feel dull or even unsafe.

LEGEND: FACADES Dull Inactive

Tamarind from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

62 Northwood

The city has many vacancies and empty lots. This can make walking feel uncomfortable. (But also presents an opportunity for densification!)

LEGEND: VACANCIES

Vacant lot

Tamarind from Palm Beach

Vacant building

Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

63 Northwood

Add in surface parking and its easy to see that the majority of downtown and key northern corridors have unpleasant walking environments

LEGEND Vacant lot Vacant building Surface parking

Tamarind from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Lots of places have no sidewalks

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Many sidewalks are narrow and cluttered with obstacles...

Nowhere for people!

For cars

For poles

One driver's "connector" is another human's "divider," splitting whole neighborhoods from one another.

Tamarind Ave

Major streets are VERY wide.

Quadrille Blvd

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

width 56 ft Banyan Blvd

width 60 ft

width 182 ft Okeechobee Blvd

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

If it: Looks like a highway, Sounds like a highway, Drives like a highway... As one West Palm Beach walker put it: "Crossing Okeechobee feels like playing Dodgeball!"

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Lack of crossings and signal timing favoring traffic makes it unsafe and very time consuming to walk across the street I've made a horrible mistake.

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Getting to the TriRail without a car is a heroic feat. ~900 commuters cross Tamarind every day from the TriRail... They deserve better.

Getting teenagers to school requires paid help

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

It could take nearly 11 minutes to cross Okeechobee.

Crossing Okeechobee at Rosemary Weekday, 8AM

Waiting... 180 sec.

Walk... RUN! to the median 2 sec. 18 sec.

Waiting... 480 sec.

Walk... RUN! 2 sec. 18 sec.

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

If you want to cross in less time, you'd have to cover 160' in 20 seconds to make the light. Put another way... Run, Forest, Run!

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

76 Northwood

Most streets outside the downtown core (and many streets within it!) are very poorly lit.

LEGEND: LIGHTS Good Light Adequate Light Too Dim Dark

Tamarind from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

It's hard to want to walk when you can't see where you're going.

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

260 days of sunshine a year West Palm Beach average temperature: 750 F Average temperature in August: 830 F

We gotta talk about shade.

Source: https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/products-services/data/1981-2010-normals/west-palm-beach

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Architecture can provide shade

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Trees can provide shade

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

But! Not all trees provide shade equally. We love all these palm trees... but they don't beat the heat.

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Most WPB streets have NO SHADE...

Um... didn't you say 83 degrees average temps in August?

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

83 Northwood

We found a lot of trees!

Tamarind from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

84 Northwood

But only some short street sections have enough consistent coverage to create a real shaded environment for people.

Tamarind from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

85 Northwood

Even with arcades, awnings, and umbrellas, West Palm could really use more shade

LEGEND: SHADE

Tree Canopies

Umbrellas

Awnings Arcades Other

Tamarind from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

86 Northwood and Spruce Street

Given this fragmented streetscape, it's no surprise that few people walk outside the key streets in the downtown core

Rosemary 21

3rd Street 232

77 11

Clematis East

Clematis West 249

396

Waterfront shared path

118

Rosemary

Quadrille

Fern

396

Cityplace

Okeechobee Blvd 122

Average Pedestrian Counts Weekday 19 Jan 2017 (CityPlace count from 08 Dec 2016)

Datura

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Some Streets are BUSY, with peak pedestrian counts comparable to larger and more walkable cities

3366 2832

weekday average 396/hour

weekday average 557/hour

900

1074 984

900

864

678

654 522

498

414

546

444

372

222

312

11 12pm 1

Clematis East

Weekday 19 Jan, 8am-8pm

7 10am 11 12pm 1

1100

2376

834

1512

660

612 426

450 348

1100

834

324

342

258

192

2946

2436

492

300

2850

2274

588

138

108

8am

3144

702

540

408

258 192

weekday average 533/hour

weekday average 2,457/ hour

9 8am

11 12pm 1

270

11 12pm 1

Cityplace

Tryon Street, Charlotte NC

16th Street, Denver, CO

Weekday 08 Dec, 10am-10pm

Weekday 06 Nov, 8am-8pm

Weekday 16 July, 10am-7pm

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

88 Even well-loved destinations see low numbers of foot traffic...

Others, not so much...

weekday average 46/hour

8am

11 12pm 1

Northwood Road

Weekday 19 Jan, 8am-8pm

weekday average 91/hour

78 78 6

8am

108

150

11 12pm 1

102

weekday average 29/hour

150 126 0

South Flagler Drive

Weekday 19 Jan, 8am-8pm

weekday average 11/hour

7 8am

11 12pm 1

8am

Rosemary & Banyan

Weekday 19 Jan, 8am-7pm

11 12pm 1

Quadrille Boulevard

Weekday 19 Jan, 8am-8pm

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

All the action is in City Place and Clematis! 1000

900

Clematis East

800

708

700

Rosemary Ave South at CityPlace

588

600 PEDESTRIANS/HOUR

Average 383 peds/hour

552 486

500

Rosemary Ave North at CityPlace

438 400

306

Clematis West

300

200 S Rosemary S Flagler Drive Spruce Northwood Datura Fern Quadrille

100

0 8AM

12PM

WEEKDAY HOUR OF DAY

7PM

Average 66 peds/hour

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

People walk where they feel invited

Cityplace, Main Plaza, weekday evening peak (Dec. 2016)

1074

PEOPLE AN HOUR

WEEKDAY AT 6PM

900

PEOPLE AN HOUR WEEKDAY AT 7PM

Clematis by Narcissus, weekday early evening peak (Jan. 2017)

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

And avoid streets that do not support walking...

No shade

Vacancies

No places to sit or rest No functions

Sidewalk obstructions

Unused lots

PEOPLE AN HOUR WEEKDAY AT 9AM Lack of eyes on the street

Rosemary and 3rd street, weekday peak hour (January 2017)

Poor lighting

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

The high quality streets invite a vibrant nightlife

8 AM

Clematis East Pedestrian Count Thursday, January 19, 2017 - 8 AM to 8 PM

Over 900 pedestrians out at 7 PM!

8 PM

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

The waterfront is almost everyone's 'favorite place', but not many people actually go 91 ppl/ hour walking

Aker Brygge Oslo, Norway 2,688 ppl/hour walking*

*Weekday 11 June 2013, 8am-9pm average IMAGE CREDITS: LINK Architektur, photo by Tomasz Majeski

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Maybe because it feels like you have to cross a highway to get there.

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Image: imperialbeachca.gov, Data: www.eco-public.com/ParcPublic/?id=681#

Flagler could be an incredible cycling route, but very few people bike there now compared to waterfronts in other cities

CYCLISTS ON AVERAGE WEEKDAY IN JANUARY (54 cyclists at 10 am - peak hour)

Flagler Drive waterfront shared path Thursday, January 19, 2017 - 8 AM to 8 PM

790

CYCLISTS DAILY AVERAGE, YEAR ROUND

Imperial Beach Bayshore Bikeway Chula Vista, San Diego (Pop: 256,000)

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

In the major downtown streets, cycling numbers are comparable to other mid-sized American cities. weekday average 21/hour

weekday average 17/hour

weekday average 12/hour

weekday average 20/hour

54 24

18 12

8am

11 12pm 1

30 18

Clematis East

Weekday 19 Jan, 8am-8pm

7 8am

11 12pm 1

7 8am

18 6

11 12pm 1

24 12

30 18

8am

11 12pm 1

Cityplace at Rosemary/Fern

Tryon Street, Charlotte NC

16th Street, Denver, CO at Arapahoe St

Weekday 08 Dec, 10am-7pm

Weekday 06 Nov, 8am-8pm

Weekday 16 July, 10am-7pm

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

There's not much cycling infrastructure in the city

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

And the infrastructure that does exist is inconsistent.

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

West Palm Beach is: ...Sunny ...Seaside ...Flat ...Compact. It should be one of America's greatest cycling cities! After implementing the mobility plan, it will be.

100

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

We've talked a lot about moving from one place to another. What about places to stop and spend time?

101

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

102

Seating Northwood

Overall the city needs more places to sit. There are clusters where seating is available, but you have to pay to sit in most seating areas. Invite more people by adding more free public seating.

LEGEND: SEATING

>25 Public

Tamarind from Palm Beach

Private

Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Hey, at least it's shady!

103

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Most bus stops don't have any shade or seats, especially as you move out of Downtown West Palm Beach...

104 "The bus in itself is fine, it's the waiting area that's painful." -North West Palm Beach resident No shade! Few, uninviting seats!

Minimal presence!

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

105

What if all bus stops in West Palm Beach looked like this one?

Shade!

Bike Parking!

Seating!

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Moveable chairs empower people to chase the shade

106

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Guess what else helps beat the heat?

Hint: It's wet. Places to play in the water are popular in West Palm Beach.

107

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

108 Northwood

But in a city that is surrounded by water there are very few places to feel it. Walk coast to coast in 20 minutes

In many cases, it's even hard to see it!

LEGEND: WATER

Water Features

Tamarind from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

110 Northwood

West Palm Beach has amazing public art with more and more to come. In much of downtown you are never more than a few minutes walk away from an amazing piece of art.

LEGEND: ART

Public Art

Tamarind from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to 23rd St

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

stay! "Look but don't touch" With little seating and hardly any shade, people can't (yet) truly enjoy these incredible cultural resources. ...and there is SO much to enjoy!

111

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

112

A top favorite place in West Palm pairs art with a comfortable place to hang out

Hint: Chairs + Shade = Comfort

Source: https://bigcitiesbrightlights.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/subculture-coffee-clematis-street-kobra-mural.jpg

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

116 Blum Park and Northwood

The Main Plaza at CityPlace is the most popular place to hang out, with over twice the stationary activities of Clematis

Clematis West

12 12

Clematis East

Main Plaza

Standing Waiting Transport Bench Seating Cafe Seating Secondary Seating Movable Seating Lying Down Children Playing Commercial Activity Cultural Activity Physical Activity

48 Howard Park

Average Stationary Counts Weekday 19 Jan 2017 (CityPlace count from 08 Dec, 2016)

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Stationary activities are dominated by paid seating

1.5% commercial activity 15% 1.5% physical standing activity 3.5% waiting for transit 46 people / hour

78% cafĂŠ seating

Clematis, weekday 8am-8pm average activity 2.5% commercial 3.5% cultural activity activity 2.5% 22.5% secondary standing seating 3% movable 3% waiting 17 seating for transit people / hour 0.5% bench seating

62.5% cafĂŠ seating

Northwood, weekday 8am-6pm average activity

117

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

Parks provide a greater mix of activities, even though overall usage is still low

Blum Park, weekday 8am-8pm average activity

16% standing

2% physical activity 19% children playing 12 people / hour

42% bench seating

118

1.5% lying down 19.5% secondary seating

10% standing

22.5% bench seating 3% secondary seating

48 people / hour

24.5% children playing

Howard Park, weekday 8am-6pm average activity

38.5% physical activity

2% commercial activity

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

119

Howard Park is loved! But only the southern half. Standing Waiting Transport

Bench Seating Cafe Seating

Secondary Seating Movable Seating Lying Down

Children Playing Commercial Activity Cultural Activity Physical Activity

Where is everybody?

Combined Thursday and Saturday stationary activities snapshots, 8am, 12pm, 5pm. Dots approximate and illustrative

It is not easy to get there, even though it's right next to downtown. Once there, there is little to do, unless you make you way to the southern part of the park.

Public Space Public Life Survey / Findings

120

Key places are somewhat sticky, but could be stickier!

On average 1 in 6.5 stay for longer

On average 1 in 6 stay for longer

67 557

Main Plaza

Weekday 8 Dec, 8am-8pm

On average 1 in 3 stay for longer 117

445

Clematis

Weekday 19 Jan, 8am-8pm

357

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA

Weekday 16 Oct, 8am-9pm

Comparison of number of people spending time in a place, related to how many people walk by - daily average.

Key Takeaways Challenges and Opportunities

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

1 Quality invites quantity (of people, that is) High quality spaces lead to high volume places

123

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

124 Northwood and Spruce Street

Shade

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

125 Northwood and Spruce Street

Seating

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

126 Northwood and Spruce Street

Adequate or bright lighting

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

127 Northwood and Spruce Street

Active and Pleasant Facades

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

128 Northwood and Spruce Street

Only a few places have all the ingredients for a pleasant human environment. And (surprise, surprise) these are the places where people spend the most time! The connections between them are what we really need to work on.

Clematis TriRail

Cityplace

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

129

2 A compact - but fragmented city Where distances are very short but the journey feels long or impossible.

6 MIN

OBSTRUCTIONS! VACANT LOTS!

NO CROSSWALK!

HOT!!!

5 MIN

9 MIN 10 MIN

BLANK WALL 2 MIN

NO SHADE! 11 MIN

TOO DARK!

4 MIN LOOONG SIGNAL!

COMPACT!

...BUT FRAGMENTED

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

3 Reasons to go, but not to stay West Palm Beach has some great destinations, but most lack the human-scale amenities that invite people to stay.

130

131

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

4 A city ready for transition, where cars still dominate You're planting the seeds for a walkable, transit-oriented city, but cars still reign here.

DOMINANT

EMERGING

Key Takeaways / Challenges and Opportunities

132

5 A city of neighborhoods - with different public space experiences The quality of the public realm varies drastically by neighborhood. All West Palm Beachers should enjoy a high quality environment.

SOME NEIGHBORHOODS

OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS

Strategic Vision Embracing Public Life

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

We look for the overlap between what is needed today and what you aspire for tomorrow.

134

needs and aspirations

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

135

Light

Art

Vision

More of what people love Peopl e

Shade

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

e l b a rt o f om

136

Vision

Make what people love accessible - for all d

te c u r t s Unob

Safe

e Connect

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

137

The future of West Palm is connected and comfortable - for all! The NETWORK PLAN envisions safe and comfortable connections for pedestrians and people cycling between existing (and future!) destinations and Favorite Places. It envisions Favorite Places in all neighborhoods. AND it connects all neighborhoods to the waterfront.

LEGEND

Main Street

Secondary Street

Tertiary / laneway

Future links

Neighborhood Street

Separated bike lanes

Future bike links

Favorite Places / Destinations School, library, museum, hospital, venue

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

10 Guiding Principles to Get There

138

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

139

1. Prioritize Comfortable Connections Lighting

Define a connected street network, with a clear hierarchy that prioritizes comfort for pedestrians and cyclists on neighborhood streets, and streets that connect between key destinations. Start by connecting Favorite Places. Make it comfortable • Where it's hot, add shade. • Where it's dark, add light. • When people need a break, add seats. Where it's hard, make it easy • When streets are wide, add crossings. • When sidewalks are blocked, remove obstructions. • When it's not clear where to go, show people the way.

Connecting existing and future Favorite Places

Shade Wayfinding

Greenery

W Seating

Unobstructed sidewalks Quality bike connections

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

140

2. Fill in the gaps - today Yesterday

People don't ever feel comfortable walking by emptiness. It's just human nature. Fill in the vacant lots, empty buildings, and blank walls now - don't wait. Activate empty buildings, ground floors, and vacant lots • Install free, fun, and artistic activities - Los Trompos and the 21 Balançoires swings are great examples. • Provide incentives to entrepreneurs to pop up in vacant lots and buildings. Don't wait for development to do it! • Make use of vacant lots waiting for development by adding neighborhood amenities.

Activate buildings

Activate lots

Today

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

141

3. Plan for a human scaled city tomorrow Temporary activation is great, but permanence is the goal. Incentivize and guide development that makes West Palm Beach a human-scaled city for the long term. Continue to develop guidelines for human-scale development • Height is fine, but how buildings meet the ground is critical. Guide developments to create ground floors that are transparent, active, have frequent entrances, and are appealing to pedestrians. • All types of developments can engage with the street, including retail, services, and residential. Be flexible • There are many ways to activate your city - not just through retail. Guidelines should allow for a variety of uses as long as they are context-sensitive and cater to people.

Quality public space In-fill buildings

Tomorrow

Active ground floors

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

142

4. Embrace and dignify human-scale mobility Intermodal connectivity - local scale

Embrace transit. It's not enough to just provide buses and trains - the experience has to be delightful. Ensure high quality access to station areas • Improve street crossings and connections to stations. • Provide shade, lighting, and unobstructed sidewalks on routes leading from destinations to transit stops. Make waiting comfortable • Multi-modal transit stations are your entrances to the city. Make them state-of-the-art and offer comfortable seating, games, art, and snacks for people to enjoy while they wait. • Upgrade bus stops with seating, shade, small-scale activities, and real-time schedules. Add service where it is needed • Increase bus service along routes that are used most. • Add new trolley and Skybike stations in neighborhoods that are not currently served.

Public service and real time schedule updates

2A 14

Intermodal connectivity - regional scale

WeWelc st P om alm e to Be ach

Frequent and reliable bus and trolley service

Station areas that welcome you to West Palm

And send you off with a kiss!

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

143

5. Polish Your Existing Gems Double down on quality Add more love to existing places

Invite more people to stay longer. • Build on existing public space gems to go from good to fantastic. If there's a great playground but it's too hot, add shade. If there is great art but nowhere to appreciate it from, add seating. Make sure every Favorite Place is chock full of quality. Repeat. • Use data and observation to understand who is not being invited into public space, and then invite them. • Use data and observation to understand when spaces are being used (or not). Create spaces that appeal to people at all times of day, during all days of the week. Focus on the everyday - not just events • Events are wonderful, but fleeting. Make sure that Favorite Places include elements that people can enjoy on a regular old day without any formalized programming or events.

Wayfinding

Greenery

Lighting People watching Shade

Seating Play

Activities

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

144

6. All neighborhoods should have Favorite Places When investing in new great places, spread the love • Invest in creating great places in neighborhoods that aren't currently represented on the Favorite Places map. • Look to build on areas that show potential: places near neighborhood destinations, amenities, and meeting places. If the neighborhood had a core, where would it be? What makes a place your favorite? Ask the locals • Engage with residents of underserved neighborhoods to understand what they need and want in new great spaces. • Co-create new places with local leaders to make sure investments are useful, relevant, and have buy-in. • Test ideas through events and pilot projects to visualize 1:1 what a new Favorite Place could be. Use the test to invite people to give direct input to the project and refine accordingly.

Double down on quality Pilot for new Favorite Places

Engage

From test to permanent!

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

Get in it!

Northwood Walk your dog!

Coleman Park

Come on in, the water is fine! • Explore opportunities to invite people to get into the water, including steps down the water, harbor baths, kayaks or other boating opportunities, etc.

Bike!

Catch a fish! ERFRON AT

3.5m

Historic Northwest

Make it easy to enjoy the waterfront • Enhance waterfront destinations with shade, lighting, seating, and programming. • Create neighborhood-specific waterfront destinations. • Use upcoming developments as opportunities to create new waterfront destinations.

Pleasant City

Make it easy to get to the water • Make Flagler a connector instead of a divider by adding comfortable crossings. • Tie each neighborhood to waterfront destinations, with safe, comfortable routes (see Strategy #1).

Stroll!

Run!

ESSIBL

BRIDGE

Enjoy the view!

Downtown

Touch it!

BRIDGE

Grandview Heights El Cid

Get on it!

7. Bring the water to the people

145

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

8. Focus and create 'extreme' quality A little here, a little there won't work. Prioritize extreme quality, and in doing so raise West Palm Beach public space quality standards. It's better to do a lot in fewer places than spread yourself thin â&#x20AC;˘ Focus on key spaces - and the routes connecting them and go all in! Build equity into the criteria for picking your extreme quality spots â&#x20AC;˘ Make sure you are investing fully and strategically in neighborhoods that need it most.

146

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

147

9. Always Lean Toward Action Action-oriented design

It's easy to get paralyzed by complexity. But don't! Emphasize progress, testing ideas, and making steps toward your ultimate goal.

M e a s u re

Use pilot projects to test ideas and visualize change 1:1 • If you have a big idea, don't be afraid to act now and test it. • Experiment, experiment, experiment. Iterate, iterate, iterate.

Keep moving in the right direction but don't give up until the job's done. • When experiments succeed, move to make them permanent. • Then scale up.

R e fi

Engage and involve - on-site. • Meet people where they are in the public realm. Ask, listen, and learn to make future iterations even better, give a voice to people who might not attend or speak at 'classic' public meetings, and get buy-in for ideas.

0238

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

148

10. Make people-first design & implementation business as usual Become the first city in the country to create an Office for Public Life. • Make public life a priority in government planning and investment to achieve spin-off effects in economic development, public health, sustainability, and more. • Hire - and empower - the right people to integrate public life planning into city planning. Make measure, test, refine part of the normal planning process • With change comes more change, new opportunities, and new challenges. Keep observing and counting and use public life tools to document, evaluate, and respond to change over time.

F ICER

- for -

Public Life People-focused (urban) design M

RE • TEST • RE

Strategic Vision / Embracing Public Life

How do we get from Strategic Vision to Action? Measure, Test, Refine. Pilot the future West Palm.

149

Taking Action Pilot Projects

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

You're doing a lot of great things! Now... Let's be strategic about it!

151

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

152

Connect the dots. y da

A lot of great things happening! But efforts are dispersed.

! w o orr

Tom

Build on great things! Concentrate efforts!

Connect! Access for all!

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

153

Pilot Project Process -> Measure, Test, Refine! M e a s u re

M e a s u re

R e fi

0238

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

154

s s e roc

p l ta

n e m e r Inc

d e nt

a l P

i n n

e i r

O n

io t c

Vision

A rri

Tra d

Why Pilot a Vision? • Test an idea on a 1:1 scale. Engage more people than traditional planning by engaging with people as part of their everyday routine • Shorten the distance between citizen and decision maker, and idea and implementation •

Create a feedback loop between community need, intervention, and use

itio

• Fail fast. Make adjustments to a long-term vision based on real information

• Envision the unimaginable

Current Situation

lan

nin

•

Manage risk inherent in capital projects by testing ideas in a low-risk environment before full-scale implementation

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Inform long-term change, step by step

Times Square, NYC

155

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Changing mindsets

Times Square, NYC

156

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

From temporary to permanent

Times Square, NYC

157

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Creating a platform for engagement

SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil

158

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Vacant lot -> public space

SÃ£o Paulo, Brazil

159

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Space for everyday activity...

and for events...

SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil

160

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

161

Staffing up for pilot projects

Managing the process a full-time job - for two!

SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil

Managing the pilots and engagement - on site

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

162 More people staying

Documenting impact

Centro Aberto ExperiĂŞncias na escala humana

Source: http://gestaourbana.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/rede-deespacos-publicos/centro-aberto/

SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil

Sales increase - local business

More people walking

Less jaywalking

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

163

Scaling up the process

More plazas

Safer streets

More play

SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil

More seating

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Inviting people out in public space

Charlotte, NC

164

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Understanding what people want and care about

Charlotte, NC

165

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Local leadership

Charlotte, NC

166

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Local ownership and community buy in

Charlotte, NC

167

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Space for community Pride in community and history

Charlotte, NC

168

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Action! 1:1

Better Block Tallahassee, FL

169

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

171 Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new

172

Pilot hunches!

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

173 05

01 COMPLETE CLEMATIS

02 DANCE INTO THE SUNSET 02

03 15TH ST: SAFE & COMFORTABLE FROM SCHOOL TO THE POOLS 04 A PLEASANT CITY FOR PLEASANT CITY 05 TWO-MINUTE TAMARIND 06 A PLAYFUL CONNECTION TO HOWARD PARK

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

174

01 COMPLETE CLEMATIS Create better pedestrian experiences along Clematis, celebrate the station as an entrance to the city and a first-class multi-modal node, and support activity on the waterfront to create One Complete Clematis.

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

KEY CHALLENGES

Not the most welcoming entrance to the city from the TriRail Station

175

It’s only a 20 minute walk from TriRail to the waterfront, and just 6 minutes to the 500 block of Clematis – but it feels much longer!

Some parts of Clematis provide wonderful walking experiences

Others... not so much

The waterfront is gorgeous, but you can’t actually touch the water, and there’s little to do

• Clematis’s core is thriving, but its eastern and western edges could use some love. • Crossing Tamarind from TriRail is a frogger-like experience, and the west side of Clematis is uninviting, with little shade and pedestrian interest. • Everyone says they love the waterfront, yet it’s empty most of the time. There’s no way to interact with the water, and shade and everyday activities are lacking.

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

176

POTENTIAL MOVES 10 minute to Currie Park Banyan Blvd

5 minute 20 minute to the Water

5 minute 20 minute to Tri-Rail

City Hall

10 minute to Sunset Lounge

2 minute to CANVAS Public Library

Waterfront

Clematis St

Flagler Lawn Park

Tri-Rail Station

Meyer Amphitheatre

Fla gle rD r

Narcissus Ave

Olive Ave

Dixie Hwy

Brightline Station

Quadrille Blvd

Sapodilla Ave

Tamarind Ave

r er D rwat Clea

Evernia St

Rosemary Ave

5 minute to CityPlace

Datura St

7 minute to Diana Place 0

Create an artistic gateway to the city at TriRail, signaling to commuters and visitors that they have arrived downtown. Include creative wayfinding elements that point out how close downtown destinations are to the station. De-froggerfy the intersection at Tamarind and Clematis by adding a signal, building pedestrian islands to help crossing, and painting a fun and welcoming supergraphic on the intersection.

50 100

Add shading to the western stretch of Clematis to make the walk from station to core more comfortable.

Install pedestrian-friendly design measures to make crossing the rail and Quadrille intersection feel safe and comfortable.

Add bike lanes along Clematis from TriRail to Rosemary.

Widen the waterfront park by taking space from (underutilized) Flagler and install docks that step down to the water. Include eye-catching lighting to draw people to the waterfront.

Light up Clematis with string lights from station to shore. Add movable seating to the Flagler Green so people can always follow the shade.

300ft

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

177

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Goal Metrics

178

Safer, more comfortable paths to transit • Decrease in jaywalking • Decrease in time spent crossing Tamarind • Higher reported transit rider satisfaction • Increase in pedestrians to and from the station, including after dark

An active and fun downtown waterfront • Increase in stationary activity on Clematis waterfront and Flagler Lawn • Increase in pedestrians • Increase in cyclists on Flagler along waterfront

Let's Complete Clematis and create a state of the art connection between rail and shore!

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

We heard that WPB has been allowing for parklets on Clematis. This is great, and people want more! When it comes to street activation through parklets, the more the merrier.

179

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

179

02 DANCE INTO THE SUNSET It’s time to restitch the Historic Northwest and downtown. Rosemary was once the commercial heart of HNW, but has since fallen into vacancy and disrepair. Let’s leverage investment in the Sunset Lounge and set the stage for a renewed ‘Main Street’ to serve HNW residents and visitors.

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

KEY CHALLENGES Not the most welcoming entrance to the neighborhood

180 Who would think that it’s just a 10 minute walk from the Sunset Lounge to Clematis?

A revitalized Sunset Lounge and future public park!

Sidewalk obstructions and lack of shade make walking unpleasant • The Historic Northwest is right next to Clematis, but feels a world away. • Banyan acts as a barrier and many streets in HNW suffer from sidewalk obstructions, dark sidewalks, vacancies, lack of shade, and few things to do. • Investments in the Sunset Lounge will create a great destination and public space for the neighborhood, but getting there on foot from downtown is challenging.

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

181 9th St

Pilot Skybike station

8th St

Better Block Pilot

Pilot Trolley Stop

7th St

Redesign the Rosemary and Banyan intersection to make crossing on foot safe and appealing.

Create a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Vacancy Labâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to test different uses for vacant lots along Rosemary (e.g., sports fields, community garden, food truck pop-ups, a plant nursery, tree grove).

Paint the vacant buildings and sidewalk obstructions bright colors to create an eye-catching pathway along Rosemary that highlights its potential. Install active wayfinding and artistic lighting along Rosemary leading from Clematis to the Sunset Lounge.

Leverage foot traffic during Clematis by Night by inviting local artists and vendors to a street fair on Rosemary and/or at the Sunset Lounge.

6th St

Community Center 5th St

4th St

Alice Mickens Park

10 minute to the Water

3rd St

Investigate adding a trolley stop on Rosemary and 3rd Street and/or at the Sunset Lounge.

2nd St

Improve the connection across the tracks and to the water along 3rd Street.

Banyan Blvd

City Hall 10 minute to Sunset Lounge Clematis

Clematis St

Public Library

6 minute to Tri-Rail 5 minute to CityPlace Datura St Rosemary Ave

Install traffic calming measures and pedestrian and cyclist improvements on Rosemary.

Sapodilla Ave

Create a gateway to the HNW at Banyan and Rosemary, incorporating art and bright lighting.

Pilot connection across tracks

Brightline Station

Quadrille Blvd

POTENTIAL MOVES

Sunset Lounge

50 100

300ft

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

182

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Goal Metrics

Break down the Banyan Barrier • Increase in people walking from downtown to HNW

183 Let’s make Rosemary a true neighborhood Main Street!

• Shorter wait times to cross Banyan and decreased jaywalking • Decrease in stigma of crossing Banyan. Perceived travel time = actual travel time

Make Rosemary a neighborhood destination • Increase in pedestrians and cyclists, including after dark • Increase in stationary activity along route • Increase in access to public transit, Trolley ridership • Decrease in vacancy

Pilot the future - With the neighborhood! • Relative use of vacancy lab tests • Number of locals engaged in pilot process • Reported sense of ownership

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

184

03 15TH ST: SAFE & COMFORTABLE FROM SCHOOL TO THE POOLS 15th Street is one of a few streets in the city that crosses both railroads at grade, connecting schools with residential neighborhoods, a major park, and the waterfront. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make 15th a truly great pedestrian and bike street that is safe and enjoyable for school children and all WPBers.

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

185

KEY CHALLENGES

Kids walk along the active rail near 15th Street to get home after school

Biking from Gaines Park to the waterfront takes only 10 minutes!

Brand new bike lanes on 15th, but most people don’t use them yet (hint: no shade!)

Not ideal pedestrian conditions on 15th

• 15th Street connects several schools with Gaines Park, Pleasant City, and the waterfront. It’s also one of the only streets that crosses both railways north of downtown. For such an important road, it could be more pedestrian friendly. • Right now kids walk to and from school along the railway - let’s make a better and safer route for them on a People First 15th Street.

The waterfront is gorgeous, but hot! Imagine if you could get in the water!

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

186

POTENTIAL MOVES 3 minute Roosevelt Middle School

7 minute Gaines Park

7 minute 20 minute to the Water

3 minute to Coleman Park

20 minute to Gaines Park

Pilot Trolley Stop

3 minute to Blum Park

Lakeside Ct

15th St

Conduct engagement with school children to understand the routes they take and why - and let kids help with any street or mural painting for the pilot. Promote walking and biking to school with events and traffic school for children. Improve pedestrian conditions on the route, including adding shade, lighting, and wayfinding.

15th St

Dixie Hwy

14th St Spruce Ave

Henrietta Ave

Nathaniel J. Adams Park Sapodilla Ave

Douglass Ave

Tamarind Ave

Windsor Ave

Roosevelt Elementary School Australian Ave

Movable Harbor Bath

5 minute to UB Kinsey / Palmview Elementary School of the Arts Division St

Pilot Skybike station

Flagle r Dr

10 minute to Currie Park

Pilot Skybike station 6 minute 20 minute to Downtown

50 100

Provide continuous protected bike lanes on 15th Street - with shade.

Add play facilities by the Roosevelt School ‘kiss’n’ride’ area for ‘Play While You Wait’.

Improve intersections with safer intersection design and supergraphics.

Make the waterfront at Lakeside Court a stop for the Sunset Pools (see Pilot 04).

Add small scale ‘rest stops’ along the route, with seating, shade, playful interventions, bike pumps, etc. Add art with and by school children to fences along the schools, tracks, and water body.

300ft

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

187

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Goal Metrics

A great route for kids • Number of kids and families engaged in pilot process • Reported sense of local ownership over pilots

188 Let's make biking and walking not just safe, but also fun!

• Observed activities at play stops • Increase in children walking and cycling on 15th Street • Decrease in children walking on the rail

A neighborhood connector for all • Increase in pedestrians on route • Increase in cyclists on route • Increase in pedestrians and stationary activity on waterfront and in Gaines Park

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

189

04 A PLEASANT CITY FOR PLEASANT CITY Give Pleasant City residents something to do in Blum Park while helping address the shortage of affordable food in the neighborhood. Connect the neighborhood to the water and Currie Park while creating a new destination: the Sunset Pools.

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

190

KEY CHALLENGES

Pleasant City is not accessible for all despite its walkable size!

Northwood Village has a great pedestrian experience, but the shops and restaurants are too expensive for many nearby residents

In Blum Park, kids use the playground and people hang out on the low fencebench, but other than that there’s nothing to do

Fields of open space make the water feel very far from Northwood and Pleasant City

• Residents say that Pleasant City is a food desert. Northwood Village has great restaurants, but they are too expensive for many who live in the surrounding area. • Blum Park is underutilized with few activities. • Getting to the water from Northwood and Pleasant City is challenging because it feels far. Once you’re at the water, there’s little to do.

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

191

POTENTIAL MOVES

Northwood Rd

Build on the community garden on Spruce and connect to a kitchen. Create a community/commercial kitchen in a vacant building or repurposed shipping container to supply the food truck program and provide jobs training. Install pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Spruce leading from Northwood to Merry Place. Improve the connection between Northwood Village and Blum Park by creating pedestrian paths through alleys and parking lots. Connect Northwood Village to the water and the new Publix on 23rd, by creating a green â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ramblasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with with an illuminated tree grove, seating, shade, and footpaths.

Flagler Dr

24th St

Dixie Hwy

Engage with Pleasant City residents to identify other improvements to Blum Park, e.g. adult exercise equipment, swings, sports, etc.

25th St

Spruce Ave

Add more activities to Blum Park by building barbecue pits, institute a weekly or biweekly food truck program with local entrepreneurs, and add picnic tables and shade.

23rd St

Blum Park

Pleasant City Elementary

22nd St

Future Apartments

Future Publix Supermarket

Pilot Trolley Stop

Pilot Skybike station

Movable Harbor Bath 9 minute 30 minute to Downtown

Currie Park

21st St

Community Garden 20th St

Pilot Trolley Stop

19th St

5 minute to Blum Park

7 minute to the Water

Butler St

Cheerful St

Build a mobile harbor bath - 'the Sunset Pools' - that allows people to get into the water and can move and serve different neighborhoods. Add a trolley stop on Dixie and at Currie Park to better serve residents of the neighborhood.

18th St

Merry Place Apartments

Pine St

50 100

300ft

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

192

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Goal Metrics

Connected Pleasant City • Increase in pedestrians and cyclists • Increase in access to public transit, Trolley ridership

193 Let’s leverage Blum Park and connect Northwood to the waterfront!

Pleasant City for Pleasant City • Number of residents engaged in pilot process • Reported local satisfaction with pilots • Increase in users of Blum Park and waterfront who live in the neighborhood • Increase in affordable food options (with local job creation) • Increase in local pride

Activate Blum Park and Curry Waterfront • Increase in stationary activity, all day • Increase in diversity of stationary activity (not just secondary seating) • Increase in diversity of users (all ages)

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

05 TWO-MINUTE TAMARIND Bring amenities to the Coleman Park community along its main spine. Along Tamarind no one should ever be more than two minutes away from comfort, services, or neighborhood serving retail. Build on existing hang out areas, and increase positive activities and eyes on the street by adding services that the neighborhood needs.

194

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

KEY CHALLENGES

195 All these vacancies could make up a great neighborhood!

Tamarind has several informal hang out spots by convenience stores, but there’s nowhere to sit, no shade, and nothing to do

There are frequent vacant lots, but many are city owned, presenting a great opportunity

This ‘bus stop’ leaves a lot to be desired

• Tamarind is Coleman Park’s main commercial street, but it’s plagued by vacancies, lack of lighting and shade, illicit activities, and a tough stigma. • Locals complain that bus stops are uncomfortable, and although there are a few hang-out spots next to corner stores there is nowhere to sit and nothing to do. • Residents have to leave the neighborhood to run most errands.

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

196 2 minute to Memorial Park

POTENTIAL MOVES

7 minute to Blum Park

23rd St

22nd St

Lincoln Rd

Add seating, shade, lighting, and information to all bus stops.

Use pop-ups to fill vacant lots, add eyes to the street, and energize Tamarind. Pop-ups could include a mobile library, WiFi stations, bike repair shop, computer access points, outdoor exercise equipment, street games, activities for teens, etc.

Better connect Tamarind and the rest of the community to Coleman Park.

Conduct a community engagement process with Coleman Park residents to understand community needs and wants. Use this engagement to direct pop-ups and other elements of ‘community nodes.’

Community Center

20th St

Add shade and lighting along Tamarind.

Pilot continuous sidewalks along the street and clearly mark intersections for safe street crossings. Investigate ways to make cycling on Tamarind (between 15th and 23rd) more comfortable by clearly marking that this is a neighborhood green street / commercial main street.

21st St

Coleman Park

19th St

Grant St State St

Adams St

Future Apartments

18th St

17th St

Melanie Jenkins Park

15th St

Tamarind Ave

Create ‘community nodes,’ or clusters of activity, around existing organic hang-out spots at corner stores and near bus stops. The nodes will include seating, shade, pop-up services, and things to do.

50 100

300ft

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

197

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Goal Metrics

198

Renew Tamarind as a community spine • Increase in pedestrians and cyclists • Increase in useful services for local residents • Decrease in stigma of the route • Number of locals engaged in pilot process

Increase perception of safety and eyes on the street • Increase in pedestrians, also the evening • Increase in eyes on the street through pop-ups • Increase in perception of safety as reported in intercept surveys

Comfortable places to stay • Increase in stationary activities at community nodes • Increase in reported satisfaction with bus stops

Let's make Tamarind a neighborhood gem!

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

199

06 A PLAYFUL CONNECTION TO HOWARD PARK Create better connections between downtown, Okeechobee destinations, and Howard Park. Add a signature, family-friendly, and playful connection to and through Howard Park - and to the warehouse district.

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

200 Howard Park is BIG on the Favorite Places map and only a 5 minute walk from Walking along CityPlace!

KEY CHALLENGES Pedestriansiswait up daunting Okeechobee the most to 8 minutes street to crossto incross West Palm, and segregates several Okeechobee. Whenof the city’s gems from the rest of downtown the signal finally

Okeechobee isn’t much better than getting across it...

comes, it’s so fast that you’d have to sprint to make it across. The median is sweltering with no shade

This is very hot! A very uncomfortable walk...

Howard Park is a Favorite Place for many West Palmers. Build on the success and add more activities, inviting a broader range of users

• The southern edge of downtown has some of West Palm Beach’s greatest assets. However, getting around Okeechobee on foot is a huge challenge. • There are few opportunities for kids to play, and the best one, Howard Park, is hard to get to from downtown and is on few people’s mental maps. • The south end of the park is very active, but the northern part could pack more punch.

There is nowhere to safely cross Parker Ave along Howard Park

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

CityPlace

Kravis Center

POTENTIAL MOVES

Okeechobee Blvd

201

Pilot Trolley Stop

Improve the Okeechobee crossings with reduced signal times for pedestrians, bulb-outs, and supergraphics.

Pilot Skybike station

Lake

Add shade, lighting, and other pedestrian improvements to Okeechobee between Cityplace and Howard Park, including the intersections.

Palm Beach County Convention Center

Hilton Hotel

Tennis Courts

Oke ech obe e

Add wayfinding that directs visitors and other users of downtown to Howard Park.

N St

Howard Park

Create a playful connection through Howard Park, with play for all ages. Play features should serve as a special and fun destination for locals and visitors alike to enjoy, like Los Trompos.

Newark St O St

Community Center Dog Park

Add shade structures and seating in the northern section of Howard Park.

New Jersey St P St

New York St

Add a SkyBike station in Howard Park, by the Convention Center.

Baseball Fields

Palm St

Penn St

Art District Rail Walk

Armory Art Center

Lake Ave

Bl an ch eS t

Park Place Parker Ave

Connect to upcoming art district by Caroline Street, with sidewalks for the Caroline crossing neaer Howard Park, wayfinding elements, and paths for biking and walking.

ne St Caroli

Future Skybike station

6 minute 15 minute to Diana Place and waterfront

Cla ire Av e

Pilot a trolley stop in Howard Park, and if user base for it, also at the Art Walk in the Warehouse Distrct.

Pilot Trolley Stop

50 100

300ft

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

202

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Goal Metrics

Okeechobee for People • Decrease in average pedestrian wait time • Decrease in jaywalking

203 Let’s break down the barrier to downtown’s southern gems!

• Increase in pedestrians between downtown and Howard Park • More comfortable microclimate on sidewalks

Connect & Activate North Howard Park • Increase in stationary activities on the northern edge of Howard Park • Increase in reported awareness of Howard Park among downtown users • Number of SkyBike users at pilot station • Number of trolley station users

A Playful Route • Increase in play activity along route, all ages

The purpose is not to solve everything at once, but to continue the process of change and be strategic about it. It's an incremental process!

Taking Action / Pilot Projects

Pilot Conversation Passion-o-meter

205 Did we forget something crucial? Do you have ideas for additions? Please write down and post on hunch board.

1. Vote with your head. Will it make a larger impact? How doable is it? Will it make West Palm more connected? And more active? 2. Vote with your heart. Which are you most passionate about? What excites you? Write down WHY you selected each. And post!

THANK YOU!