About the Plaza
history
In the early 1800s, the block of Court Street that is now Court Street Plaza was a popular outdoor market originally named Canal Market due to its proximity to the Miami Erie Canal (what is now Central Parkway). Court Street Market was the largest of nine public markets Downtown at the time.
The central market building was located on the block between Vine and Walnut streets, but booths lined the street from the courthouse, westward down to Central Avenue.
Underground tunnels beneath Court Street acted as a direct route for pigs from canal to slaughterhouse to market. They doubled as refuge space during the 1884 Courthouse Riots. The market building was demolished in 1915, but produce stands remained. The businesses currently lining Court Street may feature hints of the past throughout.
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Revitalization
A Pedestrian Task Force was formed by Mayor John Cranley and Councilmember Chris Seelbach in February 2019 to promote a more inviting and engaging pedestrian experience and return vibrancy to the block of Court Street between Vine and Walnut streets. The year-long community engagement process included seven public meetings, individual meetings with nearby business owners to address concerns, outreach efforts to each business along the impacted sections, and a survey provided to area residents, and property and business owners to provide feedback.
The task force, along with 3CDC, developed a plan for revitalizing this block of Court Street which would improve existing conditions including dislodged pavers, sign removal and upgrades, and creating an overall pedestrian-friendly space for visitors. Widening the pedestrian sidewalks increased the area for outdoor dining, events and programming, and also resulted in a shorter distance between sidewalks, making crossing the street safer for pedestrians. Additionally, the Festival Style Street (street at same height of sidewalk) allows for the street to be closed to vehicular traffic and used as a full pedestrian thoroughfare on a temporary basis for specific events.
Thank you to our sponsor Zero Waste - Kroger for their support of Court Street Plaza.
Construction Photos
In October 2020, the six-month-long construction project kicked off at what would be come Court Street Plaza. The proposed design saw expanded sidewalks, one vehicular traffic lane in each direction, and the replacement of parking spaces previously located in the center of the existing street. Through the winter and into spring, construction crews shut down the block between Vine and Walnut to reconstruct the roadway and reimagine the space in its entirety. The gallery below shows the full construction process, concluding with the completed space, which was celebrated with a grand opening weekend on June 12-13, 2021.
