61
Small Public Squares
Opening context: Activity Nodes, Promenade, Work Community, Identifiable Neighborhood
Conflict
A town needs public squares; they are the largest, most public rooms, that a town has. but when they are too large, they look and feel deserted.
Resolution
Make a public square much smaller than you would first imagine; usually no more than 45 to 60 feet across, never more than 70 feet across. This applies only to its width in the short direction. In the long direction it can certainly be longer.
Closing context:
Pedestrian Density, Activity Pockets, Positive Outdoor Space, Hierarchy of Open Space, Something Roughly in the Middle