Nashville’s urban planners are again tinkering with the honky tonk district on Lower Broadway. This time, it’s a one-month trial of a new pedestrian plaza on what had been loading zones. It’s supposed to give people a safer way to walk, and a spot to hang out.
Starting Friday, the sidewalk between 1
st and 2
nd avenues will become twice as wide — marked off with bright blue paint, reflective barriers, benches, umbrellas, and planters. Then a study will follow, with observations and surveys of people in the space.
“I’m curious to see how people use it … I may actually be sitting on some of the benches, talking to folks,” says transportation planner Michael Briggs with the Metro Planning Department.
Lower Broad has come a long way as a symbol of Nashville: a destination for tourists and home to more residents and businesses. But it still feels a little gritty as the masses shuffle along, Briggs says.
“One of the big issues is there are so many people that want to come down here and visit the unique establishments that you could easily get trampled on. The idea is that we want to give a little more space to people walking, also allow them be able to sit together, talk to one another.”
Briggs says the trial could lead to a permanent setup. Or, Metro may decide to apply what it learns to other streets.
NashvilleNext, the city’s General Plan for the next 25 years, identifies walking and public space improvements along
Lower Broad as a critical need between 1st and 5th Avenue.
“Before we undertake any significant infrastructure project we want to make sure that what would be put out here would be done well,” Briggs says.
The Broadway experiment coincides with International Parking Day. From 10 to 5 on Friday, organizations will take over curbside parking spots to decorate and host activities.
See the photos from last year.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM