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Nature-Based Placemaking�

Julie Fitzpatrick, Executive Director Pennsylvania Downtown Center

juliefitzpatrick@padowntown.org

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Pennsylvania Downtown Center: who are we?

  • Statewide nonprofit/membership-based organization
  • 19-member board of directors
  • State partner with the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for Keystone Main Street & Elm Street designated program communities
  • State Coordinating agency with the National Main Street Center/National Trust for Historic Preservation

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Main Street Approach®

  • Economic Vitality - establishing new uses for downtown while creating new assets and better utilizing existing assets
  • Design - getting downtown into top physical shape
  • Promotion - marketing the best attributes of a downtown
  • Organization - creating consensus and cooperation amongst downtown stakeholders

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DOWNTOWNS & NEIGHBORHOODS�THE RECENT PAST

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Increased vacancy rates – housing & storefronts

Rising cost of services

Lack of inter-governmental cooperation

Flight of the…

Young, Progressive thinkers &

Creative Class

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MAIN STREET APPROACH®

Economic Vitality - focuses on capital, incentives, and other economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development, and create a supportive environment for the scores of entrepreneurs and innovators that drive local economies.

Design - supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual elements of downtown while capitalizing on the unique assets that set the commercial district apart.

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MAIN STREET APPROACH®

Promotion - positions the downtown or commercial district as the center of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases a community’s unique characteristics.

Organization - involves creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement, and resources for the district.

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THE MAIN STREET- ELM STREET APPROACH

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Design

Economic Vitality

Promotion

Organization

Neighborhood Vitality

Image and Identity

Sustainable Organization

Safe-Clean-Green

Design

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WHY DOES MAIN STREET WORK? �(FACTORS THAT IMPACT THE VALUE OF REAL ESTATE)

Factor

Environment

Action

Main Street Approach

Social

Feelings, Image & Identity

Change Perception

Promotion

Political

Local Culture, Political Climate

Collaboration & Partnership Building

Organization

Economic

Costs of Living, Value of Place and Market

Market Study & Investment

Economic Vitality

Physical

Look, Feel, Function

Evaluating Current Condition & Planning

Design

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MAIN STREET AMERICA TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY

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MAIN STREET AMERICA �TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY

PUTS THE FOCUS ON ECONOMIC IMPACT, CREATING POTENTIAL FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN YOUR PROGRAM AREA

STRESSES BROAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO SECURE SUPPORT FOR YOUR PROGRAM AREA’S VISION AND MAKE SURE TRANSFORMATION REFLECTS DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES

ENCOURAGES ALL PROGRAMS TO FOCUS ON TANGIBLE OUTCOMES THAT HELP COMMUNICATE IMPACT

OFFERS GREATER ORGANIZATIONAL FLEXIBILITY, ALLOWING YOUR PROGRAM TO CHOOSE HOW TO ORGANIZE THEMSELVES BASED ON LOCAL NEEDS

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A HEALTHY DOWNTOWN/BUSINESS DISTRICT AND SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS CAN:

    • Spur business development
    • Increase the local tax base
    • Create jobs
    • Stimulate the housing market
    • Increase occupancy rates
    • Fight sprawl
    • Draw investors
    • Rehabilitate empty buildings

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    • Reflect the history of the community
    • Promote civic pride
    • Utilize existing infrastructure
    • Increase community involvement
    • Reaffirm commitment and inspire involvement from local leaders

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Keystone Communities Main Street & Elm Street Program

  • Designation Applications
    • Designated area slated for targeted investment and development for a 5- year period.

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Nature-Based�Placemaking

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What is Nature-Based Placemaking?�Basic Placemaking…

  • “As both an overarching idea and a hands-on approach for improving a neighborhood, city, or region, Placemaking inspires people to collectively re-imagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community. Strengthening the connection between people and the places they share, Placemaking refers to a collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared value. More than just promoting better urban design, Placemaking facilitates creative patterns of use, paying particular attention to the physical, cultural, and social identities that define a place and support its ongoing evolution.”

- Project for Public Spaces – pps.org

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What is NBP?

  • …an evolving, integrated theory that utilizes a community’s natural, outdoor recreational resources (its NBP assets) and the recreational activities associated with those resources, to maximize the potential economic and quality of life impact of those activities on the community(ies) involved.

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THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT MODEL

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You can’t have a “Program” for each asset type..

Trail Town Program

River Town Program

Lake Town Program

Forest Gateway Program

“Ad Nauseum” Program

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All trying to Accomplish the Same Thing…

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  • …Capitalize on the quality of life and economic opportunities for their towns (Places) represented by outdoor recreation (Nature) assets.
  • NATURE-BASED PLACEMAKING

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  • DCNR contracted with PDC in 2011 to develop the concept of Nature Based Placemaking (NBP) and the result was… The NBP Handbook
  • DCNR contracted with PDC in 2015 to test the concept of NBP and undertake pilot projects in four communities…
    • Allegheny-Clarion Valley
    • Clearfield
    • Connellsville
    • Quakertown
  • Facilitated Economic Impact Analysis
  • Developed a Video

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What is the Current State of NBP?

  • Handbook has been well-received.
  • Concept is sound – A “Main Street Transformative Strategy.”
  • Economic impact is often seasonal - problematic
  • Greatest opportunities in “traditional economy” communities – requires attitudinal change.
  • Whole community buy-in is necessary - CRITICAL
  • Still no formal “program” – DCNR or DCED?
  • No money often equals no sustained interest

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Why you should care about NBP

Attractiveness as a place to live

Attractiveness as a place to work

General health and wellness

Economic health and wellness

NBP improves and enhances your community’s…

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Attractiveness as a place to work

  • “A good quality of life is important to attracting skilled labor... Millennials are now the largest generation in the workforce, and we know they value quality of life — in other words, a work-life balance”
  • Area Development Magazine

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2 . 7 MILLION ACRES OF PARK LAND

121 State Parks 20 State Forests 6,100 Local Parks

1 . 5 MILLION ACRES OF STATE GAME

LAND

12 , 000 MILES OF TRAILS

1,700 Rail Trails Miles

200,000 ACRES

OF BOATABLE WATERS

76 Natural Lakes 2,300 Impoundments

2 , 355 MILES

OF WATER TRAILS

19 State And Federal Scenic Rivers

487 SKI TRAILS

164 Lifts

16,772 Feet of Elevation 22 Ski Resorts

3 NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGES

America’s First Urban Refuge

19 NATIONAL PARKS

26 National Natural Landmarks

(Pennsylvania Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan 2020-2024; Visit PA)

PENNSYLVANIA’S SCENIC LANDSCAPE,

RENOWNED OUTDOOR ASSETS, AND ACTIVE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS GENERATE ROBUST OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRIES.

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Nature-Based�Placemaking – Questions?

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Thank you!

  • Julie Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Downtown Center
    • juliefitzpatrick@padowntown.org