Beth in Peristil Plaza in the middle of Diocletian's Palace, the 3rd century Roman Emperor. We are staying in a 3rd floor walkup apartment next to the plaza and listening to a great concert performed in the plaza, surround by Roman architecture. The concert is great.
The Village of Frankfort, Illinois has developed a nice Village green in its historic business district. It is bordered by the Plank Road Trail, a rails to trails conversion.
The downtown had declined in the 1960's and 70's as retail moved out of the downtown and on to major roads. The railroad was abandoned.
The Chamber of Commerce undertook a Downtown Improvement Plan in 1978 - my first consulting assignment. The plan called for a number of improvements, including creating a square or green, and conversion of the abandoned adjacent railroad right of way into a bikeway. Over the years the Village has acquired land and constructed a very nice public space that supports and enhances the downtown, providing space for concerts on the green.
The Grainery Tower is painted and topped with a large American flag, providing a symbol of the community that can be
The Village also worked with Will and Cook Counties and surrounding municipalities to create the Plank Road Trail, a very nice rail to trail conversion that connects several downtowns, and is now part the American Discovery Trail, which crosses the United States.
http://plankroadtrail.blogspot.com/
http://oprt.org/
http://www.discoverytrail.org/
