Project Summary

The Downtown Entrance Plaza, which encompasses the POW/MIA/Law Enforcement Plaza, Public Safety Plaza and Robert D. Garton Veterans Plaza, is undergoing a complete redesign. The original plaza was designed by Michael VanValkenburgh and Associates (MVVA) in 2000. The site is approximately 1.5 acres and encompasses two separate plazas at the north and south of State Road 46, which sees nearly 30,000 vehicles pass through daily. This area serves as a main entry into Columbus but has been overgrown and underutilized for years. The redesign and redevelopment of this site will integrate the Downtown Entrance Plaza into other current or future developments in the area.

The plaza redesign seeks to achieve several goals:

Transform this gateway entry to the city to be more attractive, safe, and accessible for all while maintaining green space and allowing more activity from and interaction with downtown residents, employees, and visitors.
Collaborate with organizations with a stake in the property to creatively solve site deficits and design for greater use, enjoyment, and connectivity to the 1821 Trail, downtown, and future riverfront development.
Improve pedestrian-friendly design features with the vehicular experience ensuring the site design creates a positive experience and complements the key entry features of the Bob Stewart Bridge, Veterans Memorial Park Plaza, and the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
Ensure compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

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Timeline:

2024 Project Activity:

January: The City of Columbus and Columbus Redevelopment Commission partnered with the Columbus Design Institute to seek design qualifications for the redesign of the Downtown Entrance Plaza. Columbus Design Institute played a critical role in managing the project, while Redevelopment extended funding support for the project. The City and Community Development also partnered to provide anchored support throughout the designer selection and redesign process.
February: The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the redesign was issued.
March: An onsite RFQ meeting was held to walk the site and answer questions from interested architecture, design and engineering firms. The RFQ was due in March and received an impressive 18 submissions!
April: Merrit Chase, a landscape architecture and urban design firm, was selected to complete the redesign. A resolution was approved by the Columbus Redevelopment Commission to approve $450,000 in TIF funds to support the redesign and redevelopment of the plaza.
June: On June 24th, Merritt Chase provided a project timeline update to the Columbus Redevelopment Commission and hosted their first Public Engagement Session featured as a picnic in the plaza. The event was well-attended and served to gather feedback from community stakeholders.
October: Merritt Chase hosts a second community engagement session at the Commons following a lunch session to review the schematic design concepts with key stakeholders. Three concepts are presented: The Field, The River and The Hill.
November: Merritt Chase takes feedback from stakeholder sessions and the public engagement session to incorporate into a final iteration of their proposed concept, which will consider features from The Field, The River and The Hill concepts.

2025 Project Activity:

January: Bonnie Boatwright was engaged to serve as the Project Manager for the Downtown Entrance Plaza redesign through the construction administration phase.
February: Merritt Chase completes the final iteration of the design for the project and begins to obtain cost estimates for construction.

Public Engagement Session One

Landscape architecture and urban design firm, Merritt Chase, hosted a Public Engagement Picnic on June 24th. The event was well attended and featured Theo’s Brunchfast. Several community members attended to engage with Merritt Chase and provide thoughtful feedback for consideration in the plaza redesign. Key takeaways from the Public Engagement Picnic can be found here.

Public Engagement Feedback

Landscape architecture and urban design firm, Merritt Chase, hosted a Public Engagement Picnic on June 24th. Several community members attended to engage with Merritt Chase and provide thoughtful feedback for consideration in the plaza redesign. Click here to read some of the engagement feedback and key take-aways.

Inventory and Analysis

As part of the design process, Merritt Chase has reviewed public comments and survey submissions, gathered historical information, and explored the site surroundings. Click here to read their inventory review and analysis presentation.

Public Engagement Session Two

Merritt Chase held a Public Engagement Session on Monday, October 21st to allow members of the public the opportunity to learn about the project and provide feedback on the preliminary design concepts.