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7-Parks, Open Space & Public Art
Outside of the courthouse square lawn,
only a few plazas and one small park ex-
ist in downtown Georgetown today. These
are used daily as places of rest and also
serve as the location for festivals and
other productions. While many success-
ful events are orchestrated downtown,
such as the Poppy Festival, Christmas
Stroll, Market Days on the Square, First
Fridays, and Concerts on the Square,
there is a need for enhanced venues for
these and future events. The challenge in
creating a variety of places such as these
is that many of them are used only for
limited periods of the year. While space
is needed for large ceremonial events at
times, on many other days, such space is
not required and, if developed to be used
exclusively for such uses, will be empty at
times. In response, the city should provide
some spaces that can flex with differing
use requirements throughout the year.
Parks provide recreation opportunities for
residents and visitors and enhance the liv-
ability of the community. Parks within the
city center should serve the Georgetown
community at-large, regional residents
and visitors, as well as downtown dwellers
and employees.
The green lawn that surrounds the historic
courthouse building should continue to
be actively promoted and used as open
space in the downtown. While it is cur-
rently used this way for events like Market
Days and Concerts on the Square, these
efforts should be continued and expanded
to bring other users downtown. Visual and
performing art venues would work very
well in this grand, central space.
The following parks, plazas and open
spaces should be added to the downtown:
• Large plaza(s) for organized events
• Playground for children
• Passive green space to serve nearby
residents
• Seating areas for pedestrians to relax
• Small outdoor space for modest as-
semblies
• Performance space for outdoor con-
certs and for other cultural events
• The farmer’s market should be
brought back downtown and in an en-
hanced venue that can be adapted to
market days but also can serve other
purposes at other times
This chapter provides recommendations for the expansion of new
parks, plazas and open space that serve the many user groups target-
ed for downtown. Providing parks and open space that accommodate
different types of activities is essential to the vitality of downtown
Georgetown, especially if it is to serve as an active place for resi-
dents as well as customers, workers and visitors. Public art should
also be rigorously incorporated to the downtown landscape to make
Georgetown memorable and accent its focus on arts and culture.
7-PARKS, OPEN SPACE & PUBLIC ART
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City of Georgetown | Downtown Master Plan Update
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MAP 16 | PARKS AND OPEN SPACE STRATEGY
LEGEND:
Existing Open Space
Proposed Open Space
Downtown Overlay District Boundary
2.5-minute Walk
Existing Trail
Planned Trail
5-minute Walk
Proposed Trail
To Southwestern University
To Old Town Park
To San Gabriel Park
To North San Gabriel Trail
VFW Park
Courthouse Square
Monument Cafe
Founders Park
Edwards Park
School Playground
Historic Jail
Municipal Center Park
Chautauqua Park
Proposed Park/Plaza
Proposed Neighborhood Park
Proposed Pocket Park & Plaza
Proposed Plaza
Splash Pad
Blue Hole Park
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7-Parks, Open Space & Public Art
PARKS AND PLAZAS
A series of new parks and plazas are pro-
posed for the Downtown Overlay District.
Each park/plaza listed should be open to
the public and be flexible to accommo-
date for special events. In addition to the
public parks/plazas listed, new develop-
ment should also incorporate semi-public
and private open space for tenants and
building users to enjoy. The following is
a list of proposed parks and plazas from
north to south:
TERRACE AND/OR PARK ON THE RIVER
A terrace or park overlooking the South
San Gabriel River on the site just east of
the Austin Avenue bridge should be incor-
porated as it redevelops. This open space
could be part of a nice restaurant, resi-
dential development, hotel or other but
regardless of the building use, the space
should be open to the public. A small riv-
erside amphitheatre or performance area
could bring events down to the river.
be activated by new residential uses that
are proposed for the area, as well as
county employees from the nearby Jus-
tice Center. This park is proposed in the
current location of the district stormwater
detention area, which would need to be
reconfigured into an underground tank.
The terrace and/or park on the river could include
a small riverside amphitheatre or performance area.
PROPOSED POCKET PARK AND PLAZA
The block where First Texas Bank sits, at
10th and Austin Avenue includes signifi-
cant trees that should be saved. There is
an opportunity to create a small pocket
park and plaza at the northwest corner of
10th and Austin, where the new crosswalk
is proposed, which would help activate
this area of Austin Avenue while keeping
the existing building and trees.
A new neighborhood park with playground should
be provided to support new residential uses.
NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
A small neighborhood park with a play-
ground is proposed at the western termi-
nus of 2nd Street. This new park would A pocket park and plaza along Austin Avenue could
help activate this area.
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OLD JAIL PARK
A portion of the block that contains the
historic jail building could be developed
as an interpretive park, with markers ex-
plaining the history of the site. This also
could serve as an amenity for the adjacent
neighborhood.
MUNICIPAL CENTER PARK
A park should be developed in conjunction
with the proposed municipal center. This
should be designed to serve as an amenity
for the library and for use during festivals.
It could include a small amphitheater for
outdoor concerts or performances and
should also include an area for a small
playground or “tot lot” for children.
FESTIVAL STREET IN THE MUNICIPAL CENTER
One effective means of providing flexibil-
ity in open space is to design a parking lot
or a street such that it can be converted
into a plaza for special events. To do so,
decorative paving, trees, shrubbery and
ornamental lighting should be provided.
In addition, utility hookups should be in-
stalled to accommodate use of electrical
equipment and water.
8th Street between Rock and Martin Luther King
Streets is proposed as a “festival street” where
downtown farmer’s markets and other events could
be held.
8th Street between Rock and Martin Luther King Streets is proposed as a “festival street” where downtown
farmer’s markets and other events could be held.
More flexible space is needed downtown to accom-
modate a range of public events.
Library
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7-Parks, Open Space & Public Art
PUBLIC ART
Public art can help to establish a unique
identity that cannot be copied elsewhere
and it can contribute to a special image
beyond conventional streetscape ele-
ments. Public art may include individual
art objects that are installed in gateways
to downtown, along sidewalks and in as-
sociation with public buildings, parks and
open space. It also may include spaces
or sites that can accommodate perfor-
mances and other cultural events. Other
art installations may incorporate decora-
tive painting, murals and modifications to
street furniture that provide surprise and
delight in the urban setting.
Freestanding sculptures, wall murals and
decorative sidewalk mosaics are some
examples of familiar public art media.
Other more unusual forms may include
wind, water and even plant materials. An-
other unusual example is the “wrapping”
of utility boxes throughout downtown that
Georgetown has begun to initiate, which
should be continued. A series of such art
installations can add accent to the down-
town’s fabric while also challenging a new
awareness on behalf of viewers.
Art in public places should be defined
broadly to include a wide range of media
and experiences. In most cases, the City
should seek out professionally executed
public art installations. Public art installa-
tions in the downtown should include the
following types:
PERFORMANCE OR EVENTS SITES
These include small plazas or amphithe-
aters designed to accommodate perfor-
mances.
ART SITES
These sites should be installations that
are strategically located to serve as ac-
cents in the community, such as at gate-
ways into the downtown or as focal points
in public parks. In general, art sites should
consist of objects placed in or integrated
into the urban environment.
Art sites are strategically located to serve as ac-
cents to the community
STREETSCAPE ART
These installations should be designed as
integral components of the streetscape
elements. In these cases, the artist would
“customize” or reinterpret conventional
features of a streetscape design. For ex-
ample, an artist might design a special
decoration for a selection of public plant-
ers, or reinterpret a bench or bike rack
design as art.
Streetscape art should be designed as integral
components of the streetscape elements.
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City of Georgetown | Downtown Master Plan Update
SCULPTURE GARDENS
Sculpture gardens are small spaces like
plazas or courtyards that incorporate
a series of sculptures. These are to be
enjoyed as passive outdoor spaces used
for leisure, relaxation and contemplation.
One area in Georgetown that has been
envisioned as such a space is the “alley”
behind the row of buildings just south of
the courthouse, on the block between 8th
and 9th Streets and Austin and Main.
ART PARKS
These are sites where artists would be
commissioned to develop an entire site
as an art installation that would be con-
sidered a part of the parks system. An art
park could expand on a theme, such as
an interpretation of the city’s agricultural
heritage. In some cases, the artist could
collaborate with landscape architects or
other design professionals.
MURALS
Murals on buildings, as long as they do
not damage historic materials, also con-
tribute to a downtown arts appeal and
provide interest along an otherwise empty
facade. This would mainly happen on pri-
vate property.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
• Adopt a policy to allocate a percent-
age of construction costs for public
buildings to public art.
• Adopt an incentive program for private
individuals to donate or loan art to be
used in public places.
• Develop a process for evaluating and
selecting public art for the downtown.
Art parks are sites where artists are commissioned
to develop an entire site as an art installation (art
credit: Joe McGrane - Longmont, CO)
Murals add interest to an otherwise empty facade.