Little late... Here are some pictures. They have been concentrating on the Walnut St. side, mostly the stone work that borders the trees.

 

Perk Park by hubz1124, on Flickr

 

Perk Park 2 by hubz1124, on Flickr

 

 

 

Thanks for the update! It would be cool to see the progress from that view as its happening

Anyone have a "before" pic?

^ page 6  :wink:

Well, I was actually hoping someone took a pic of the concrete garden that used to be there

Here are the plans to refresh everyones memory of what the completed project will be.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2010/030510/PerkPackage030410.pdf

 

 

Perk Park is back at Design Review for furnishings.  Now they have some pictures posted..:

(Theres more on the design review site)

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2011/06032011/index.php

i noticed the water feature has been eliminated from the final design as well as the kiosk. Does anyone know why? 

Fountains are expensive

From... http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/PressRelease/prdetail?id=10609

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, July 15, 2011

 

Perk Plaza Phase Two Construction Underway

Completed Park to Open in October

 

CLEVELAND – The City of Cleveland and ParkWorks are pleased to announce that the final phase of construction of the Perk Park project is underway. Construction began in May and is expected to be completed in October 2011.

 

The $1.3 million Phase Two includes custom seating, a decorative trellis along East 12th that will provide shelter and seating elements, additional plantings, trees and public art. Funding for Phase Two was provided by the sale of the Convention Center from the City of Cleveland to Cuyahoga County.

 

"This project represents the best of what a public-private partnership can produce. We worked creatively with our partners to see this project go forward and now we are in the home stretch," said Ken Silliman, Chief of Staff, City of Cleveland.

 

The City of Cleveland finished Phase 1 of the project last fall. The $1.59 million first phase included the leveling of the park to bring it to street level and the creation of a new great lawn, planting and seating walls, as well as trees. Funding for Phase One was provided by The City of Cleveland ($1,217,000) and private funds ($375,000) raised by ParkWorks from local foundations, property owners and stakeholders.

 

"Perk Park will be a vibrant and much needed gathering space for residents, business owners and visitors of this important downtown neighborhood," said Ann Zoller, Executive Director, ParkWorks.

 

The construction contract for Perk Park is the City’s first “Design-Build” contract—a method that creates cost savings and efficiencies because design and construction can occur concurrently.

 

ParkWorks, a nonprofit dedicated to the development of greenspace in the City has managed the design and construction for the City of Cleveland. The project was designed by Thomas Balsley Associates of New York and with the local landscape design firm of McKnight & Associates and included significant community participation. F. Buddie Contracting, a Cleveland-based company, is the construction contractor.

 

Primary project funding was provided by the City of Cleveland and the following donors: Amtrust Foundation, Kent H. Smith Foundation, K&D Group, JP Murphy Foundation, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Eaton Corporation, Sherwick Fund, Ron and Wil Traub, Eva L. and Joseph M. Bruening Foundation, Higley Fund, and the Louis H. and David S. Ingalls Foundation. In addition, $17,000 was raised from local tenants surrounding the Plaza.

 

- 30 -

I see the PD picked it up, but managed to (again) add that it is the same location that the robbery and shootings took place a couple of years ago just in case anybody hade forgotten, or in case people were starting to feel downtown was safe again. 

 

Thanks you Mr. Ott for making sure that nobody forgets and for making sure that even positive news has some negative added to it  :wave:

I'm certainly no fan of media sensationalism, but considering that the shootings were a major driving force for the redesign of the park, I think it fits within the story.  Keep in mind that not everyone (in fact, most people) don't follow the status of these developments the way we do.  For many reading that article, it might be the first they have even heard of the project.

 

Eh, I can't blame the PD for this one. It was a horrible trauma for the victims, their families and friends, and the city, not to mention the only reason Cleveland's doing anything in that area presently. The murder/attempted murder is definitely relevant enough to the article to warrant being mentioned

Definitely agree with you Willyboy.

Eh, I can't blame the PD for this one. It was a horrible trauma for the victims, their families and friends, and the city, not to mention the only reason Cleveland's doing anything in that area presently. The murder/attempted murder is definitely relevant enough to the article to warrant being mentioned

 

If it's such a "trauma" as you state, why continue to harp on it, when it had NOTHING to do with the renovation of the park?

 

This speaks volumes to the type of reports/writers and editors the Plain Dealer currently has on staff.

Definitely agree with you Willyboy.

^^I think their point is that it was the motivation for the renovation, so does have something to do with it.  At this point I'd prefer they move past it, but I don't think it's as gratuitous as some of their other debbie downer content.

^^I think their point is that it was the motivation for the renovation, so does have something to do with it.  At this point I'd prefer they move past it, but I don't think it's as gratuitous as some of their other debbie downer content.

 

Except they didnt make that connection in the story. 

^^I think their point is that it was the motivation for the renovation, so does have something to do with it.  At this point I'd prefer they move past it, but I don't think it's as gratuitous as some of their other debbie downer content.

I was under the impression that the design (process and discussion), which was started prior to the incident, was altered but not solely related to the incident.

 

I agree, lets move on.

....................The $1.3 million second phase will include a trellis, seating, trees, plants and art along East 12th Street. The work will be funded with proceeds from the $20 million sale of the Convention Center to Cuyahoga County.

 

Construction is expected to be finished by October.

 

Jeremy Pechanec, 28, was shot to death at Perk Plaza in February 2009; his friend, Jory Aebly, survived. The two Cleveland Clinic employees were celebrating a friend's birthday at a nearby bar when a group of men targeted them for a robbery.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/07/perk_plaza_reconstruction_to_b.html

 

 

^The link is made in the opening paragraph: Cleveland has begun the second and final stage of work on downtown's Perk Plaza, redesigned after a 2009 shooting to expose hiding places.

 

But even if it's related, I too am ready for the PD to move on.  No one can accuse them of having ignored the connection.

 

 

just so everyone is clear. The shootings were in no way the impetus for redesigning this park. Work on the redesign was done far in advance of that very unfortunate incident. Certainly the poor design and sightlines of the former park played a role in why the assailants took the victims to this area, but that wasn't the reason the park was redesigned. The park was redesigned because it was a horrible park.

 

And if the PD would like to continue to bring it up they should at least be unbiased and stop presenting it as totally random and remind people that the two victims decided to attempt to buy drugs from complete and total strangers, and really put themselves in an awful situation.

^Thanks for the clarification and chronology reminder.  Certainly makes the PD's continued references seem even less relevant, especially given the context you mention.

 

The PD just ran a "Cleveland remembers" thing about downtown parties in the park a few days ago, which I'd imagine this redesign would be very useful for reviving.  Too bad the PD couldn't use that hook instead.

Was it clear the two victims went to the park to buy drugs?I recall one of the scumbags' scumbag uncle whining about that (I guess to mitigate his nephew's role in some nonsensical way), but I don't recall reading about that in some official capacity.

 

I'm sure that's what happened regardless, just unsure it was absolutely established.

yes. it was established in the trial.

They went to buy drugs, or so it is said....but they probably didn't expect an attempt to murder/getting murdered    :shoot: was part of the purchase agreement.  :-o I cannot accept the rationale that because they did, somehow excuses a murder or makes the shooter somehow less guilty. Its just Bull SH!!. It is similar to the ideology that suggests that because a woman wears something sexy...she deserves to be.... or it is no wonder she gets raped. Sure, it may attract a rouge or salivating lustful element and situation, but the means does not justify the ends IMO. By the way...the Party in the Park events were great. I also remember the "Celebration Square to Square" Does anyone remember that? It really hoked up P.S. and P.H.S.

^I really don't think that was McCleveland point or that he was even remotely suggesting that they deserved to get shot because they were buying drugs.  How you got that from his post is beyond me.

I was not saying he did.  Some have vaguely suggested it.  How you interpret me directing that at McCleveland baffles me as well... Ok, back on topic please.

just so everyone is clear. The shootings were in no way the impetus for redesigning this park. Work on the redesign was done far in advance of that very unfortunate incident. Certainly the poor design and sightlines of the former park played a role in why the assailants took the victims to this area, but that wasn't the reason the park was redesigned. The park was redesigned because it was a horrible park.

 

Yeah.  I shouldn't have said 'redesign' because I wasn't really talking about the plans, but rather the actual redesign/construction.  The shootings did at least appear to kick-start a long stalled project.  It seemed to light a fire over there at 601 Lakeside. 

 

 

just so everyone is clear. The shootings were in no way the impetus for redesigning this park. Work on the redesign was done far in advance of that very unfortunate incident. Certainly the poor design and sightlines of the former park played a role in why the assailants took the victims to this area, but that wasn't the reason the park was redesigned. The park was redesigned because it was a horrible park.

 

 

Yeah.  I shouldn't have said 'redesign' because I wasn't really talking about the plans, but rather the actual redesign/construction.  The shootings did at least appear to kick-start a long stalled project.  It seemed to light a fire over there at 601 Lakeside. 

 

 

 

Hts121,

 

Actually, you are incorrect about the shootings being the impetus for kickstarting the project. Things had been set in motion to get this project going before the shootings occurred. The shootings only served to delay the project because the police mandated that the area had to remain in its original physical state while the related court cases were ongoing.

I'll take you word for it.  Certainly wouldn't be the first time the PD's reporting was misleading.

 

Correct my timeline if wrong:

 

2003 - Project proposed

2003-2008 - several failed attempts to jump-start the project

early 2008 - City 'earmarks' some grant funds for the project

Feb 2009 - shootings occur

April 2009 - City council approves funding

Later in 2009 - proceeds from sale of convention center are earmarked for the project

I was under the impression (from Cimperman) that it went more like the timeline Hts listed.  It was one of those things the city wanted to do, but no one would ever set aside money more it until Cimperman lit a fire under their @sses after the shooting.

some recent photographs of the progress made to the park.  the plantings look very nice. 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.201970307473.160793.131349842473

some recent photographs of the progress made to the park.  the plantings look very nice. 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.201970307473.160793.131349842473

 

Huzzah!  :clap:

chester commons :)

 

thx for the link -- that is quite a project. nice to see that it is active and they are hard at work on it too.

 

this tsunami of construction across downtown is really heartening to see!

I just walked by the site this morning on my re-routed walking commute to work around E. 9th Avengers madness. Hopefully it's finished before I go back to my regular commute!

redesign of perk park to be completed in october

Thursday, August 18, 2011

 

Long-planned renovations to Perk Park, a downtown park where two men were shot in a grisly robbery more than two years ago, are now almost finished. The new park is set to reopen in October.

 

The $1.6 million first phase of the project, which was completed last fall, removed sunken areas that were considered unsightly and unsafe because they provided places for individuals to hide. Funding for this phase came from the City of Cleveland, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, businesses and foundations.

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/perkplaza081811.aspx

C'mon guys, you're not going to jump all over Fresh Water Cleveland for leading with the murder in Perk Park like you would if this was a Plain Dealer story?  ;)

lol, I noticed that, but I've given up on anything but headlines like below, particularly as it relates to the park.

 

 

Grisly Murders in Cleveland's Perk Park

Less likely, after renovation

August 22, 2011

 

As the plaintive wails for help, and the death rattles of recent murder victims in Cleveland's Perk Park have faded into distant echoes in the nigh abandoned urban canyons of downtown Cleveland, city officials have nearly completed the renovations of Perk Park into a slightly less horrifying venue...

 

 

 

^LOL!

further photo updates from the construction.  The lawns have been planted.  An amazing transformation!

 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.201970307473.160793.131349842473

Very Nice, but also very maintenance prone in a city that slacks on such issues, an area we need improvement.

The lights look cool at night

^ They look amazing at night!  Happened by there one night when I wasn't paying attention in the car and suddenly everyone in there was all, "Woah, what's this??"   

^ i can imagine -- i would love to see photos of the lights coming on at dusk.

 

this renovation is very modern from the lights to the layout, seating and kiosk.

 

i wish for other pocket parks like this, for example on a little section of one of those warehouse district lots!

i wish for other pocket parks like this, for example on a little section of one of those warehouse district lots!

 

The corner lot on St. Clair and W. 9th would be a great location for that.

 

The park does look nice.  I'm surprised the park still has large mound grass areas though.

Very Nice, but also very maintenance prone in a city that slacks on such issues, an area we need improvement.

 

This issue has been addressed. Maintenance will be above and beyond the normal.

Definitely love to see the progress down there on Perk Park!!!  :clap:  It's nice to see that area with some green space downtown.

How am I the only one that noticed they've taken down the construction fence? I don't know if they've completely finished with all the details, but no one seemed upset when I sat on a bench.

 

(Sorry no photos, my 3 year old figured out how to break the lens on my phone.)

How am I the only one that noticed they've taken down the construction fence? I don't know if they've completely finished with all the details, but no one seemed upset when I sat on a bench.

 

(Sorry no photos, my 3 year old figured out how to break the lens on my phone.)

 

I forgot to say something! They just took it down today.