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Ketchum's Town Plaza across from Giaccobi Square is due for a facelift. The Ketchum Community Development Corporation (KCDC) and the city's Parks &Recreation Department have taken the first steps in developing a Town Square design that will occupy the city owned lot immediately north of the Visitors Center up to and including the existing Town Plaza. The new Town Square is being modeled after many great urban plazas around the world with elements of those existing in intermountain West ski towns and will serve as a central location for year-round festivals, concerts, markets, gatherings, and everyday pedestrian-friendly retail and leisure use.
The design effort received an enthusiastic boost from a crowd of over 90 attendees to a public information forum and world-class plaza design presentation hosted by the KCDC last month. Dr. Suzanne Lennard, author of
several books including "Making Cities Livable" enlightened the audience with a graphic presentation and discussion on how urban plazas invigorate local business, build community, and create versatile and enduring
attractions for visitors. The design effort was further propelled by the announcement of a $100,000 donation from local resident and philanthropist Tina Mehan. Ms. Mehans generosity gets us a long way to the estimated
$400,000 cost for the completed project. We hope other folks will be similarly interested in investing in what really is an asset to our community, reported Ketchum parks superintendent Jen Smith.
The KCDC would like to see the Town Square completed by July 4, 2010 in time for the summer season. To reach this goal, the Town Design Team (TDT), consisting of KCDC members, city staff and citizen volunteers who bring
myriad professional skills to the table is engaging in a process of schematic design and model making, and will be exhibiting these design concepts for public review and comment at a public workshop scheduled in the
coming weeks. The design includes features such as a large paver area designed to accommodate large events as well as small group and individual leisure use, a raised stage area with steps, fire pits, lighting, trees, tables, chairs and benches, and areas for temporary vendors. One things for certain: LeRoys stays, says TDT chair Dales Bates. Its location may change slightly, but the ice cream will not.
The Town Square design incorporates permanent recyclability of the materials, adds Bates. Such recyclability allows much of the materials used in construction to be re-used in any subsequent development called for in
the Ketchum Downtown Master Plan. Further fundraising, which kicks-off next week, highlights the lasting economic benefits of the Town Square project in its initial form and any future enhancements.
People interested in the Town Square effort may direct questions to Ketchum Parks & Recreation at 726-7820 or the Ketchum CDC at 727-2117. Tax-deductible donations are encouraged and may be made to either the
non-profit KCDC or the Parks & Recreation Departments memorial fund.
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