Independence Square Park Improvements
(This is now known as Hugh McColl Park, and was formerly known as Polk Park. It is located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, NC)
Background
Landscape planning and design firm Agency Landscape and Planning worked with the Charlotte Center City Partners and Civility Localized to reimagine Polk Park into an entirely new public space known as Independence Square Park.
This 1/3rd of an acre park located at the center of Trade Street and Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina is a bustling green space in the city’s business district.
Challenges
Engaging both the business district and historically marginalized communities surrounding the park with an emphasis on equity, inclusion, and belonging. Gaining trust of communities not often centered in these conversations required that we navigate tough conversations and create safe spaces for engagement.
What We Did
Civility Localized was responsible for public outreach, information and community engagement services. Civility Localized provided 20+ hours of intercept surveying, meeting
coordination, and community engagement strategy development to help the community envision a newly redesigned Independence Square Park (formerly Polk Park). Civility Localized engaged various interest groups working and living in the area to create a conceptual design for the space.
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