Got ideas to enhance downtown experience? City wants to hear them

Calling all idea people: Bring your creativity and inspiration to improve part of Phillips Avenue.

The city will be reconstructing one-half block of Phillips Avenue to the north of Ninth Street next year. But first, city officials want input about how to enhance the streetscape and improve the experience for pedestrians.

There’s a lot of space that exists from the buildings to the roadway, and you get to help determine how to make it better.

“We are asking people to think of this as a blank canvas and let us know what types of elements associated with streetscape design they want to see incorporated,” said Dustin Powers, the city’s community development coordinator.

“Those elements can be something that we already have here in Sioux Falls or can be something that they enjoyed in another city.”

The city’s survey will ask you to select images that appeal to you, including types of seating, landscaping and interactive features.

You also can upload photos of other ideas that appeal to you.

Of course, we wanted to weigh in, too, so we did a little brainstorming on our own. See what you think:

Jamison Square in Portland, Oregon, is a model for other urban parks. It’s only an acre in size but filled with cool features.

It’s best known for this fountain, which the city said is modeled after a tidal pool: “Water cascades from stone joints into low pools as the fountain continuously recirculates treated water with energy-efficient pumps and motors. The park’s numerous benches make this an especially popular spot during lunchtime, summer evenings and on weekends.”

We do sculptures well in downtown Sioux Falls. So how about a Lego version?

These are from downtown Houston where they became instant selfie sites.

Photos by Chris Letsou

And finally, swings. As in swings for all ages.

Swing Time, an installation in downtown Boston, consists of 20 glowing oval swings in three sizes. The park also includes bocce, pingpong, beanbag toss, Adirondack chairs, a sound stage and open-air bar. Probably not room for all that at Ninth and Phillips – but maybe at some of the other developments coming to downtown?

Did we inspire you? Click here to take the city’s survey, and send your ideas. It will be open for input until at least mid-June.