From the setting of the original Shelby County Courthouse, to being dissected by the Inter-Urban; the Public Square has changed greatly over the years as our community has progressed, always serving as the heart of our community. The Public Square has historically been the central gathering place for public events, commerce, and community in Shelbyville, and reinvesting in this space will allow it to prosper as a community gathering space for generations to come. The investment in our downtown will serve as a catalyst for future investment from the private sector, and the investments in infrastructure improvements will help facilitate that growth.
The current configuration of the Public Square is largely made up of asphalt and concrete that is dedicated to vehicles, leaving so little space for pedestrians that it feels uncomfortable and dangerous to walk within the Public Square. To realign the balance between the pedestrian and vehicular realms, four small public greens, lined with trees will be constructed in each quadrant of the public square.
A traffic table is a traffic-control device utilized in more urban environments where pedestrians and vehicles are constantly crossing each other's paths. The traffic table uses a small incline to bring the vehicles up to the same level as the pedestrians, making the drivers more aware of the pedestrians around them.
High-quality, durable pavers are being utilized to help make the Public Square a public gathering place that the community can take pride in. Multiple types, colors, and sizes of pavers will be used in the sidewalks and portions of the street to elevate the character of the entire Public Square.
By using a combination of colored pavers and asphalt along with decorative bollards and textured pavers, the public square will become a "curb-less plaza". This will allow individuals to safely move across and throughout the space without needing to step up and down due to curbs, making the entire space ADA accessible and more welcoming to individuals of all mobility-levels. The curbless design eliminates the need for curb ramps and elevation changes allowing the space to be more easily and safely programed for events including the location of vendors and closures of portions or all of the public square.
The Joseph Fountain has served as a focal point, landmark, and centerpiece to the Public Square since its placement. The restoration of the original pieces of the fountain will respect its historical significance to ensure that it's legacy continues for years to come in a larger more historically accurate but modern fountain.
Throughout the entire downtown area, sidewalks and plaza spaces are being designed to allow for merchants and business owners to establish small dining areas, or places to showcase their merchandise. These areas are being planned so they can be either temporarily or permanently installed and so they don't interfere with the accessibility of the sidewalks and other walking areas.
Work will occur on the western half of both North Harrison Street and South Harrison Street. Work will begin on West Washington Street between Tompkins Street and Union Street/Alley.
Work will occur on the section of W Washington Street between the Public Square and Union Street/Alley.
Work will occur on the eastern half of both North Harrison Street and South Harrison Street.
Work will take place on the western half of the public square as well as the Central Plaza.
Work will take place on the eastern half of the public square.
The video below illustrates the proposed design for the Public Square Redevelopment and how the space can be used for different types of events.