Definition of Context/ Development of the Theme or Area of Significance Pearl Street Mall is associated with the themes of Landscape Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Commerce, and Entertainment/Recreation. The development of Pearl Street Mall from a vehicular street into a pedestrian mall was in response to the community’s initiatives for urban places. It is representative of the local community’s actions and of the national trend of the revitalization of downtowns of all sizes through pedestrian-oriented initiatives. As Boulder’s downtown declined, community and civic leaders initiated Pearl Street Mall as a mechanism to draw businesses and users to a revitalized city core. The trend to integrate pedestrian malls into established downtowns began in the late 1950s and early 1960s and extended through the 1980s. Pearl Street Mall is an exemplary example of the national trend in pedestrian mall construction with continued successful use as originally intended. Pearl Street Mall is significant due to its development as a designed public landscape within downtown Boulder. The development of Pearl Street from a vehicular thoroughfare to a pedestrian mall was led by planner Carl Worthington, who served on the city’s planning commission from 1960 to the 1970s. The design documents were prepared by the nationally renowned landscape architecture and planning firm of Sasaki Associates with construction completed in 1977. During the time Sasaki Associates collaborated with city planners and civic leaders, the firm was instrumental in developing projects on the University of Colorado campus including the Master Plan for the campus from 1960 to 1970. Associated Property Types Pearl Street Mall has exceptional importance as a rare example of only a few downtown pedestrian malls that remain intact within the United States. At the height of pedestrian mall development in the 1960s and 1970s more than 200 pedestrian malls were being developed or were in existence across the county including several within Colorado. As of 2018 only 75 remained with many failing and considered for demolition. In addition to Boulder, several other Colorado cities initiated the modification of core downtown streets into pedestrian malls. This included Downtown Aspen Pedestrian Mall completed in 1982 that formalized a decades long experiment into three connected blocks, and Linden Street Mall in Fort Collins built in 1984. Denver and Grand Junction integrated other modes into their city’s central malls – transit on Denver’s 16th Street Mall and one lane of traffic along a curved route in Grand Junction. Pearl Street Mall is a rare example of the mid-century modern style and one of only two pedestrian malls designed during this period within the state of Colorado. Its four blocks of Pearl Street, between 11th and 15th avenues were selected for construction as a pedestrian mall by city planners and civic leaders in 1966. Sasaki Associates designed the mall with the ideals of providing a space for pedestrians separate from vehicles and choreographed for movement and social engagement. Physical Characteristics and Integrity The detailed plans for Pearl Street Mall brought aspects of an urban park into the downtown city core along Pearl Street. Pearl Street Mall was dedicated as a public park on August 6, 1977. The design includes a consistent ground plane of brick paving, nodes for community gathering including a children’s play node with animal sculptures for climbing and an open space at Boulder County Courthouse. Rows of linden trees for shade lined many blocks that include areas of undulating topography for interest and as a nod to Boulder’s setting at the foot of the Flatirons. Custom-designed kiosks, light fixtures and signage were integral to the design. The design was built as intended and remains today with few changes aside from tree replacements, minor additions, and modifications. Pearl Street Mall continues today as a vital component of downtown Boulder. Relationship to the National Register Criteria Pearl Street Mall is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is within the Downtown Boulder Historic District. The architectural elements that surround it, including building facades, alleys, and the spatial relationship of the adjacent shops and restaurants to the outdoors, is important to its role as a pedestrian mall. Pearl Street Mall is within the boundaries of the NRHP district but was not elevated as a feature or component at the time the nomination was prepared.
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Pearl Street Pedestrian Mall
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