Historic Downtown Square Renovation

The City celebrated the completion of the renewal and renovation of the Historic Downtown Square on November 21, 2008. The Square is the iconic center of Fayetteville. It is Fayetteville’s front door and living room.

The Square is where we as a community meet on Saturday morning during Farmer’s Market, it is where we celebrate Home Coming Parades, the arrival of the Christmas Season, and the Lights of the Ozarks. Hundreds of visitors and residents are on the Square each day, and during the Farmer’s Market and Lights of the Ozarks that number swells to the thousands.

A casual visual review quickly reveals that the condition of the Square has become worn and even dangerous in places. These conditions have existed for sometime, evidenced by the various uneven and deteriorating sidewalks. The City has undertaken many efforts during the last several years to mill and grind down the numerous trip and fall hazards created by that unevenness.
In the winter of 2007 Mayor Coody approached the Advertising and Promotion (A & P) Commission and asked them to partner with the City to rehabilitate the Historic Square to address the deteriorating and hazardous conditions on the Square. The Commission graciously agreed to the partnership and has committed $460,000 (or up to one half the cost) to the Square renewal and asked that Susan Regan, the longtime Square Gardner, be intimately involved with the project.

The renewed Square appears the same as before with a few subtle differences: the sidewalks are slightly wider, the travel lane between the parked cars is 24 feet wide, the throat at the intersections has been narrowed to 18 feet and the alignment through the intersections has been improved.

The traffic around the Square continues to function as it did previously. Delivery vehicles are still required to double park and all delivery vehicles or buses are still be able to navigate the Square. It may be a little constrained for some larger buses, but all vehicles will be able to maneuver around the Square, while still creating a very welcoming pedestrian friendly environment. The corner by the Continuing Education building was constructed too tight and will be corrected at the end of the project.

For more information please review our Historic Downtown Sauare Renewal and Renovation flyer.