Nollen Plaza Makeover?

[MusicMan]

Green space!

I'm sure many of you can remember the big debate after the first 80/35 with regards to the sculpture park. 80/35 (and the arts festival that year) were the first large-scale uses of the park and people saw what can be done in a large grassy urban space. There was suddenly an uproar from some people about the sculpture park taking away our flat green space. If even part of Nolan Plaza could just be kept as bare grass I think it would invite so many unique uses. Music, picnics, frisbee, art shows, etc....

[dogbo]

They went ahead and thinned the trees out this week. Looks a lot more inviting than the former "Black Forest" thing that had going before.

[DMRyan]

Definitely looks better, but still seems too dense. Not that having a grove of mature trees isn't a bad thing in a downtown, but how do you bring use to the area? At a minimum, how do they get the grass to grow under the tree canopy so it doesn't look like a neglected dirt patch?

[dogbo]

Definitely looks better, but still seems too dense. Not that having a grove of mature trees isn't a bad thing in a downtown, but how do you bring use to the area? At a minimum, how do they get the grass to grow under the tree canopy so it doesn't look like a neglected dirt patch?

If they ever get going on the makeover, the ground underneath the trees would utilize pavers in seveal places to address this issue.

[hawk61401]

I like the views of the creators of Crusoe Umbrella. "The space where the sculpture was to stand was much like an island in the city surroundings with a large pool of water along one side. "

It shouldn't be a place for a forest. We have that at Waterworks Park.

http://bit.ly/oiLnaI

[hawk61401]

A proposal to add “peace” to the name of Nollen Plaza in downtown Des Moines will come before the City Council at today’s meeting.
Chet Guinn, a retired Methodist minister active in the peace community, is suggesting the change. Guinn said there are several reasons why the park should be renamed Nollen Peace Plaza.

http://dmreg.co/wpQyl7

I can't get excitied about the name change. If the name is going to change, at least have it be attributed to a corporate that can chip in a few mil to help pay for the estimated 7 million dollar cost to help make the plaza more functional.

The " Peace Plaza" in Rochester, Minnesota is functional all year round. I think this would be a cool idea for Nollen Plaza once the forest is removed. They have an event called "Social Ice". It features an 82ft long Ice bar, serving beverages in ice glasses with ice sculptures placed around ..

[dogbo]

^ the trees have already been thinned out. What is there now, is what stays from my understanding.

[IowaNomad]

More trees were thinned out over the weekend due to the wind. There are 7 to 10 on the ground or leaning significantly within the grass area.

[dogbo]

More trees were thinned out over the weekend due to the wind. There are 7 to 10 on the ground or leaning significantly within the grass area.

Wow! I walked by over the lunch hour. That is amazing (and too bad).

[mirage1]

....just THAT much faster to the presented goal to make this area a look-alike to an airport concrete runway....

Too bad that suggestions in the redo of this that reflect the best of "an Iowa central square park" have so far fallen on deaf ears.

[casbern]

All trees to be removed from Nollen Plaza by the city...

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/04/18/by-storm-or-city-nollen-plazas-trees-will-be-uprooted/

[dogbo]

Missed that. When you said all the trees to be removed, I assume you meant all the fallen trees.

No, you did mean all.

http://www.kcci.com/weather/Nollen-Plaz ... l#comments

[casbern]

Missed that. When you said all the trees to be removed, I assume you meant all the fallen trees.

No, you did mean all.

http://www.kcci.com/weather/Nollen-Plaz ... l#comments

Yeah, I see why they are doing it for the safety aspect, but that's going to be a huge change with no stated date of when Nollen will be made over.

[dg2445]

My apartment overlooks Nollan Plaza. I'm not certain but I think that more trees fell after the storm on Saturday night. I thought there were about six down in the morning afterwards.

Doesn't matter now though - they've all been cut down.

I really hope they can replant the space.

[speeder]

I don't think a forest is needed in that space; street trees and a central open grass area, yes.

[DMRyan]

Agreed, sad to see trees that size go, but this wipes the slate clean and really opens up the possibility of how this park can be better utilized. You really couldn't do much with that space, and it probably looked better to some landscape architect on paper than it ended up being in real life.

Put a big ass playground and new splashpad/water feature down there or something.

[speeder]

Put a big ass playground and new splashpad/water feature down there or something.

Great idea!

[casbern]

Put a big ass playground and new splashpad/water feature down there or something.

Adventureland's Kokomo Cove at Nollen Plaza?

[DMRyan]

Plans will be speeding up to get work going on Nollen Plaza. The base bid is $8 million, but all components of the plan are in the $10 to $11 million range. Contigent on fundraising, the plan now is start work next summer.

Here's a look at the early concept. A new interactive fountain would take the place of a portion of the existing recessed fountain space. New seating areas will be created, with some type of colorful and attention-getting light fixtures installed (shown in the background in the 2nd rendering). Space for a significant public art piece is also located in the center of the park. The Crusoe Umbrella sculpture will remain.

I'm happy to finally see an interactive fountain downtown that is always popular with the kiddies. However, I still think the plans could better for this park. More could be done to bring activity to this space, including a playground on the south end of the park where the grove of trees once stood. I hope the plans really green up the space and make it more inviting than the current stark concrete environment, especially now that so many of the trees are gone.

[dsmspence]

I kind of agree - Whatever does happen with Nolan Plaza needs to be amazing, not just good enough and right now these plans, while both cool and a definite improvement over the status quo, just don't amaze me. I do, however, LOVE the idea of the lights and public art aspect. Something like a super contemporary sculpture garden would be neat here with a restaurant on the ground floor of Capital Square extending outdoor eating space out into it...

[Mastermind]

There needs to be plenty of benches, ledges, etc. to encourage people to eat lunch there. I still think the UofI (Papajohn)/DT Library area, is the best use of public space so far in Des Moines.

[mirage1]

...still WAY WAY WAY too much concrete. The talk (and it seems ONLY talk) of the last public meeting was returning to an updated "Iowa Town Square" concept, yet the plans and presentation don't come close to approaching that way of thinking. One look at these plans and the only thing that comes to mind is the same thoughts you see when you look at all that is wrong with the Walnut Street design. While the new pictures show a lot of green, other angles (which are not shown in the above pictures) of the new plan show a proposal of about 80% nearly flat concrete/concrete block in this architect's plan for this space. Sad.

As has been mentioned before, it seems one of the most successful concepts of this is the town square in Washington, Iowa. It is an area of nearly exactly the same size. The Washington square park seems to have a terrific mix including a wonderful lighted "dancing" fountain in it, a very nice bandstand/events space (which could have small restrooms in it if needed in Nollen Plaza), and lots of grass with flower garden areas and great trees with plenty of seating. One of the most popular small parks in Iowa.

Why reinvent the wheel with this mostly concrete airport runway idea with hard concrete seating that has been presented? Why not go with what would really work for that space? This should NOT be this hard.

[hawk61401]

The pool in that rendering? Yes, TMI I know, but I can pee farther than what that wussy little fountain is squirting. What firm/landscape architect comes up with these weak ass plans?

Nollen Plaza should be a vibrant plaza. Is it too much of a radical concept that it could be a public space that draws people 365 days a year? It could be a space for holiday events, food or craft markets, music, dancing, temporary art installations/exhibits, well heck, even yoga classes. And, maybe a fountain that is on all year. If Northland Fountain in Kansas City can do it, why not Des Moines?

[DMRyan]

...still WAY WAY WAY too much concrete. The talk (and it seems ONLY talk) of the last public meeting was returning to an updated "Iowa Town Square" concept, yet the plans and presentation don't come close to approaching that way of thinking. One look at these plans and the only thing that comes to mind is the same thoughts you see when you look at all that is wrong with the Walnut Street design. While the new pictures show a lot of green, other angles (which are not shown in the above pictures) of the new plan show a proposal of about 80% nearly flat concrete/concrete block in this architect's plan for this space. Sad.

As has been mentioned before, it seems one of the most successful concepts of this is the town square in Washington, Iowa. It is an area of nearly exactly the same size. The Washington square park seems to have a terrific mix including a wonderful lighted "dancing" fountain in it, a very nice bandstand/events space (which could have small restrooms in it if needed in Nollen Plaza), and lots of grass with flower garden areas and great trees with plenty of seating. One of the most popular small parks in Iowa.

Why reinvent the wheel with this mostly concrete airport runway idea with hard concrete seating that has been presented? Why not go with what would really work for that space? This should NOT be this hard.

I'm inclined to agree. While I don't think something as folksy as a town square is the exact answer, I don't see why they have to strive to make this some ultra-mod attempt at winning a contemporary landscape architecture award. Much in the same way as the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden, cold and sterile spaces like this don't seem to naturally invite crowds in. Go back to a pallet of natural materials combined with a heavier dose of landscaping. I realize paved plaza space is needed for events, but don't just have a sea of concrete, use paver stone or something to minimize the stark appearance of large spans of paved area. A few tweaks in materials and humanizing the space, combined with an interactive water feature is a slam dunk.

Since the Civic Center folks are steering this, they next need to turn to their terrible looking and poorly maintained concrete plaza spaces, around their facility. Most notably, that 1984-esque looking chunk of space with a few dying trees just to the north of the building.

Here's some inspiration:

CityGarden--St. Louis




Waterway Square--The Woodlands, Texas




Battery Park--NYC

[Emil]

This is something that is still potentially in the works:

Des Moines Performing Arts hopes to start construction this summer, said spokesman Dale Stark. The group is still raising money (the goal is $11 million), but Stark declined to say how much has been raised.

In February 2011, the group unveiled plans to renovate the downtown park and add a shallow fountain and other features, including trees, to the now-bare park.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... ck_check=1

[Mastermind]

I would think $11M would be enough money for one hell of a park.

[DMRyan]

Word is this project is nearly entirely funded already, and is still expected to start this summer with completion in the summer of 2014. The breakdown on the costs of the project at $8 million for construction, $1 million for artwork, and $2 million for a maintenance and operations endowment.

I thought this would've taken a back seat on fundraising with several other notable downtown projects (YMCA, Social Club, Botanical Center), but they just may have pulled this out afterall.

[Emil]

They moved the start of the marathon to one of the bridges in anticipation of the park being closed in October so it sounds like they're close.

[DMRyan]

No news to share (other than the city chipping in $400,000 for the project), but an article from KCCI.com showing this project on track nonetheless.

From KCCI.com:

DES MOINES, Iowa —A plan to transform Nollen Plaza in downtown Des Moines is going before the Des Moines City Council Monday.

The council will vote on the design proposal and an economic development grant to help the Des Moines Performing Arts' project.

Some $8 million is planned for construction costs for the new interactive fountain, gardens, trees, walkways, lighting and seating. A $1 million budget is planned to add public art to the park.

Des Moines Performing Arts has already launched its fundraising campaign to pay for the project.

The council is expected to vote on a $400,000 economic development grant to be paid in four annual installments to help with construction and maintenance costs.

The new design for the park includes a large red carpet that extends from the west side of the park all the way to the Civic Center. The new interactive fountain would be located inside the west part of the red carpet area. A large LED-lighted interactive public art installation is also being proposed for the park.

The park's signature sculpture, the giant green umbrella, will remain at the corner of Locust and 3rd streets.

If all goes according to plan, construction would start next summer and continue into summer 2014.

Read more: http://www.kcci.com/news/central-iowa/h ... z2SXPAEOsE

[dogbo]

Talk of changing the name. Not sure how I feel about this as I think Nollen Plaza has very high name recognition and people know where it is (by name).

http://whotv.com/2013/05/19/nollen-plaz ... me-change/