PARKS, PLAZAS & PUBLIC ART Public places where neighbors can comfortably spend time getting to know each other are an essential part of a healthy, vibrant community. A variety of these public spaces, from the formal to the informal, encourages positive social interactions among people of diverse backgrounds, ages, income levels, and even native languages. Public art in such places helps express care and concern and communicates the energy and culture of a particular place. Given the diversity of east Sunrise, a diverse array of public spaces will help improve community cohesion, pride, and reputation or brand. The City has already made significant commitments for exciting improvements to multiple parks in east Sunrise in ways that enhance opportunities for more use and social interaction. Also, this Plan recommends some additional changes to parks and open spaces in the sections for various districts and on some of the opportunity sites. Urban plazas are a different kind of public space more suited to events, markets, vendors, entertainers, and retail connections. An urban solution with less landscaping than parks, plazas can also help with the positive identity or brand of a place. A new major central plaza is recommended and more fully described in the Village Center District and Post Office opportunity site sections of the Plan. It will function as a regular gathering place for both residents and visitors, and it will become a key part of the identity of east Sunrise. Public art can help transform the way people feel about a place. It has been used for centuries to express community pride, tolerance, diversity, and the creative culture of places. Given the variety of public spaces available in east Sunrise, including medians, parks, plazas, and civic buildings, there is a tremendous opportunity to use public art to change perceptions, enhance community pride, improve wayfinding, and make walking a more enjoyable experience. Specific recommendations for ways to include public art can be found in several sections on Districts, with a special focus on gateways and the Village Center. Also, several opportunity sites provide significant opportunities to include public art on private property. NEXT STEPS
5 5 Create guidelines for public art and codify them at a commission meeting to guide installation per recommendations in each district.
S S Example of public art in public spaces by Sextafeira. Coral Gables, FL
116 | EAST SUNRISE IMPROVEMENTS MASTER PLAN
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