EASTON, Pa. — Easton City Council on Tuesday got a fresh look at new plans for Centre Square’s southeast quadrant.
Landscape architecture, planning and art company Omnes’ Founder Laura Stedenfeld appeared at the evening’s council committee meeting to discuss furniture setup for the quadrant after meeting with them about a year ago.
Stedenfeld said one of the drivers for the revamp was to make an outdoor community space more usable for the public.
"Now, we really want a place for people to sit and be and feel more vibrant in the city."Landscape architecture, planning and art company Omnes’ Founder Laura Stedenfeld
“So part of the goal is, you know, all of these people coming with apartments and the liveliness of Downtown," Stedenfeld said.
"Now, we really want a place for people to sit and be and feel more vibrant in the city.
“So this is pretty blank right now, and we know with the hotel and apartments coming in that we need a little bit more hospitable space.”
The new features
Some of the new features will include two 20-feet-long curved benches, two carre benches (square benches surrounding a tree), a 79-inch circular bench, and two 71-inch circular benches.
Those last two benches can also be moved during festivals if need be, Stedenfeld said.
The curved benches will be equidistant from the center point, which would face the stage often set up in Centre Square, with a clear view for the other benches with fall closer to the buildings.
“Part of the reason that we had the benches off into the side is because we did want to accommodate the stage that sometimes is there during festivals," Stedenfeld said.
"And then this is kind of the best view of a lot of what's going on here."
Councilman Roger Ruggles suggested round benches would be preferable, at least aesthetically, in place of the longer curved benches.
But Public Works Director Dave Hopkins said those rounded benches were prohibitively expensive — around $30,000 to $40,000.
In a project that aims to improve not just the southeast quadrant but the one situated outside Crayola Experience that runs about $150,000, such an expense would not be reasonable, Hopkins said.
'We need more community spaces'
While the current placement keeps outdoor dining access and walking corridors in mind, if need be, some of the benches could be moved to accommodate additional foot traffic during festivals or other events.
“When I go to other cities, this is something I think that we're sometimes missing, and as the city is growing, too, I see people hanging out here, I see a lot of people downtown need to grab food from multiple restaurants and eat outside on a nice day."Councilwoman Crystal Rose
“We need more community spaces like this for people to hang out,” Councilwoman Crystal Rose said.
“When I go to other cities, this is something I think that we're sometimes missing, and as the city is growing, too, I see people hanging out here, I see a lot of people Downtown need to grab food from multiple restaurants and eat outside on a nice day.
"So I think, I think it's really interesting. It's also visually more interesting than just having open sidewalk.”
Hopkins said the furniture order would require a 24-week lead time, meaning the project likely will begin in spring, depending on the status of the construction of the hotel at 8 Centre Square and where construction equipment will be placed.
