Focus on Downtown Pedestrian Comfort
Project for Public Spaces to come to Downtown Toms River

Focus on Downtown Pedestrian Comfort

TOMS RIVER, NJ, Aug. 6 – Downtown Toms River will be joining with the internationally-recognized Project for Public Spaces (PPS) Wednesday, August 22 to host a public workshop geared to enhancing the pedestrian experience in the Main, Water, and Washington Street areas of Downtown. The “placemaking” workshop will be held at Mancini Hall in the Ocean County Library beginning at 5:30 p.m. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Imagine a pleasant stroll from the Ocean County library in Downtown Toms River to Huddy Park, on the riverfront, enriched with landscaping, interpretive and directional signs, and comfortable benches. Or consider a similarly pleasant walk from the bus station to the County Courthouse. The placemaking workshop will engage attendees in looking at a number of important Downtown routes and making them as pleasant an experience as possible.

Frank Capone, Chairman of the Board of Downtown Toms River, explains “Downtowns thrive by being convenient and comfortable for people to walk around freely. Over the course of years, that convenience and comfort is often compromised by changes in traffic patterns, construction, changes in use, and so on. This program with Project for Public Spaces is intended to help those who work, shop, and otherwise enjoy Downtown to provide their input regarding what will make walking more convenient and comfortable.”

The Project for Public Spaces program will be very interactive and last until around 9 p.m. It will start with a light meal and introductions and a brief program on what makes a great place. The attendees will then be divided into teams that will each be assigned a nearby Downtown destination to walk to and evaluate the experience. When they return, they will meet as a team and put together a report and recommendations. Those will then be shared with the entire gathering.

One of Project for Public Spaces 11 Principles for Creating Great Community Places is “The Community Is The Expert.” The August 22 workshop is based on that principle. The organizers hope to attract 60 or more people representing a cross section of those who care about the community; public officials, people who work Downtown, people who make use of the many public offices, Library patrons, students, diners, shoppers, people who use Huddy Park and other fans of Downtown.  

According to Michael Redpath, Executive Director of Downtown Toms River, “We have been working with Ocean County, the Township of Toms River, and various state agencies to develop and, ultimately, execute plans to improve pedestrian comfort and convenience Downtown. The Project for Public Spaces program is yet another piece of the intricate system that needs to be adjusted in order to help Downtown Toms River reach its full potential.” 

Known around the world for its work on the design and management of public spaces, PPS was founded as a non-profit in 1975 to build upon the pioneering Street Life Project of writer-sociologist William H. Whyte. Since then PPS has developed a unique process for transforming public spaces, which it calls "Placemaking." Not only has PPS worked in 2,000 communities in 47 states and 26 countries to improve parks, markets, streets, transit stations, libraries and countless other places, it has also deeply influenced the way cities and towns approach public space. PPS’ participation is being funded by a grant from the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.

People planning to participate in the program are asked to register in advance in order to plan for materials and food. There is no cost for participating. To register, call Downtown Toms River at 732-341-8738 or send an email to info@downtowntomsriver.com. Participants are asked to plan on participating in the entire program, which will last until between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. They are asked also to dress comfortably in order to walk the short route that they are assigned to study.

For more information on Downtown Toms River, downtown events, or to become a volunteer at one of the fun events hosted annually, visit www.DowntownTomsRiver.com or call 732-341-8738.