Star Plaza - A Community Project
In May 1993, The Garden Club of Cleveland together with Shaker Lakes Garden Club formed a leadership committee to research and develop a civic project as a showcase for the Garden Club of America's annual meeting in Cleveland in 2000.
The project criteria were:
The methodology was:
Budget:
The Garden Club of Cleveland and Shaker Lakes Garden Club to contribute $100,000. through their combined memberships.
Timeline:
The project must be completed prior to 2000.
By November 1995, a triangular plaza site had been found across from the regional offices of Star Bank in the Renaissance Building. It is owned by the City of Cleveland and leased to the Cleveland Theater District Development Corp., a group of about 50 Playhouse Square building owners. Star Bank paid $1.35 million for naming rights to the European style plaza in the heart of the downtown theater district. In addition to Star Bank's financial commitment the plaza was to be built with contributions from the State of Ohio, The Garden Club of Cleveland, and Shaker Lakes Garden Club, and the Bicentennial Committee. The Plaza was designed by Thompson, Wood, Presley and Associates, a Cambridge, MA. urban design firm. It was to be one of three parks being built for the the city's 200th birthday. The Plaza was to be brick paved and lined with two dozen 20-25 foot high trees and include a 900 square foot pavilion. Within the Plaza there was planned a space for live outdoor performances illuminated by a 40 foot high light tower.
In September, 1995 Plant the Plaza, a highly successful dinner dance at the Wyndham hotel raised $160,000., more than enough funds to meet our $100,000. commitment. During the following winter both clubs worked closely with the design firm and the Playhouse Square Foundation on final plans for the Plaza. Tree specie and cultivar were identified. Five species which fit criteria for an active urban environment and hardiness in USDA Zone 5 were chosen. Criteria included growth habit, leaf form, texture, spring and fall color, hardiness, and educational value. On a very snowy day in mid-November, 1996, the trees having entered winter dormancy were planted by Davey Tree Co. which was awarded the contract to maintain them for a period of 5 years. All the trees were Ohio grown and a 5" caliper. The two garden clubs underwrote this contract as well as the enhancement of an irrigation system. During this period members of the two clubs planted bulbs and perennials to help beautify the site.
With 3,657 of the excess funds, the clubs matched the same amount contributed by the Cleveland Theater District Development Corp. to cover the costs of restoring and reinstalling an historic mile marker. The mile marker, designed by Walker and Weeks, prominent Cleveland architects, was originally installed in 1934. It had been removed for the construction of the Wyndham Hotel. The marker is a five sided column of cut stone, mounted with a bronze top and windowed with shatter proof glass, which reveals a thermometer and barometer. Mileage to surrounding towns and cities are cut into the stone sides. Ohio, which became a state in 1803 has about 330 mile markers. The mile marker was rededicated on September 25th, 2001.
On November 11, 2001, a memorandum of understanding between The Garden Club of Cleveland, Shaker Lakes Garden Club, and the Cleveland Theater District Development Corp. was signed to establish a special fund to assist in preserving the Plaza. The clubs turned over the balance of their account, approximately $42,000. to CTDDC in order to establish an interest bearing named fund which they will manage for the benefit of Star Plaza. The Plant the Plaza account will be used for capital expenditures to replace trees, shrubs, and plant material as needed to enhance the architectural beauty of the plaza. The funds will not be used for daily maintenance. Any expenditure over $2000. will be submitted to the Clubs for written approval before it is authorized. The CTDDC will submit an annual report to each club listing any and all expenditures.
Star Plaza earned the GCA Zone X Civic Achievement Award.
GCC Project Representatives - Mary Conway and Jean Frazier
The project criteria were:
- The project must be unique and have distinction.
- Overall plans of the Bi-Centennial Committee must be taken into consideration.
- The site must be available for public access.
- Significant site improvement could be made without financial participation of the two clubs.
The methodology was:
- A community partnership of civic and non-profit organizations would be established to identify and implement the project.
- Site identification would be the result of the clubs' research and presentations by community leaders regarding Cleveland's current and future needs in highly visible and heretofore unimproved sites.
- Cooperative efforts would be delineated as to:
- Current and projected leadership responsible for the area designated for improvement.
- The specific role of the Garden Clubs within the partnership relevant to design, contractor, portion of total budget, and future maintenance.
Budget:
The Garden Club of Cleveland and Shaker Lakes Garden Club to contribute $100,000. through their combined memberships.
Timeline:
The project must be completed prior to 2000.
By November 1995, a triangular plaza site had been found across from the regional offices of Star Bank in the Renaissance Building. It is owned by the City of Cleveland and leased to the Cleveland Theater District Development Corp., a group of about 50 Playhouse Square building owners. Star Bank paid $1.35 million for naming rights to the European style plaza in the heart of the downtown theater district. In addition to Star Bank's financial commitment the plaza was to be built with contributions from the State of Ohio, The Garden Club of Cleveland, and Shaker Lakes Garden Club, and the Bicentennial Committee. The Plaza was designed by Thompson, Wood, Presley and Associates, a Cambridge, MA. urban design firm. It was to be one of three parks being built for the the city's 200th birthday. The Plaza was to be brick paved and lined with two dozen 20-25 foot high trees and include a 900 square foot pavilion. Within the Plaza there was planned a space for live outdoor performances illuminated by a 40 foot high light tower.
In September, 1995 Plant the Plaza, a highly successful dinner dance at the Wyndham hotel raised $160,000., more than enough funds to meet our $100,000. commitment. During the following winter both clubs worked closely with the design firm and the Playhouse Square Foundation on final plans for the Plaza. Tree specie and cultivar were identified. Five species which fit criteria for an active urban environment and hardiness in USDA Zone 5 were chosen. Criteria included growth habit, leaf form, texture, spring and fall color, hardiness, and educational value. On a very snowy day in mid-November, 1996, the trees having entered winter dormancy were planted by Davey Tree Co. which was awarded the contract to maintain them for a period of 5 years. All the trees were Ohio grown and a 5" caliper. The two garden clubs underwrote this contract as well as the enhancement of an irrigation system. During this period members of the two clubs planted bulbs and perennials to help beautify the site.
With 3,657 of the excess funds, the clubs matched the same amount contributed by the Cleveland Theater District Development Corp. to cover the costs of restoring and reinstalling an historic mile marker. The mile marker, designed by Walker and Weeks, prominent Cleveland architects, was originally installed in 1934. It had been removed for the construction of the Wyndham Hotel. The marker is a five sided column of cut stone, mounted with a bronze top and windowed with shatter proof glass, which reveals a thermometer and barometer. Mileage to surrounding towns and cities are cut into the stone sides. Ohio, which became a state in 1803 has about 330 mile markers. The mile marker was rededicated on September 25th, 2001.
On November 11, 2001, a memorandum of understanding between The Garden Club of Cleveland, Shaker Lakes Garden Club, and the Cleveland Theater District Development Corp. was signed to establish a special fund to assist in preserving the Plaza. The clubs turned over the balance of their account, approximately $42,000. to CTDDC in order to establish an interest bearing named fund which they will manage for the benefit of Star Plaza. The Plant the Plaza account will be used for capital expenditures to replace trees, shrubs, and plant material as needed to enhance the architectural beauty of the plaza. The funds will not be used for daily maintenance. Any expenditure over $2000. will be submitted to the Clubs for written approval before it is authorized. The CTDDC will submit an annual report to each club listing any and all expenditures.
Star Plaza earned the GCA Zone X Civic Achievement Award.
GCC Project Representatives - Mary Conway and Jean Frazier
The Garden Club of Cleveland is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and a member of the Garden Club of America.
The Garden Club of Cleveland is dedicated to charitable and educational purposes including stimulating the knowledge and love of gardening, sharing the advantages of association by means of educational meetings, conferences, correspondence, and publications, and restoring, improving, and protecting the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvements.