The Importance Of Streetscapes
There are a variety of features that go into making an area attractive and accessible for community residents and visitors. People notice road paving, construction, trash clean up, beatification efforts and more, but are often unaware of streetscapes and their significance.
Streetscape is a term “that is used to describe the natural and built fabric of the street, and defined as the design quality of the street and its visual effect.” The concept recognizes that a street is a public place where people are able to engage in various activities. Streetscapes and their visual experience largely influence public places where people interact, and they ultimately help define a community’s aesthetic quality, economic activity, health and sustainability (Complete Communities).
Gwinnett Place has been working on streetscapes over the years to help improve its identity and to make it more visually appealing. One streetscape project in Gwinnett Place is the Pleasant Hill Road sidewalks and streetscapes enhancement, which began in January and was completed on July 1. Five phases of projects along Pleasant Hill Road from Old Norcross Road to Club Drive have now been completed.
The various phases have been funded by the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant funds in response to applications submitted by the CID, along with Gwinnett County and CID funds. The projects feature new landscaping, installation of new curb and gutter, benches, pedestrian plazas, bus shelters, brick pavers, lighting, trash receptacles and accompanying drainage structures. The most recent installations were created by CMES, Inc. who was awarded the contract by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. Ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act were also included.
Did you know the CID, in partnership with Gwinnett County, also completed more than 15 other streetscape projects and sidewalk enhancements? You can find them along Pleasant Hill Road, Satellite Boulevard Venture Parkway, Market Street, Crestwood Parkway, Satellite Boulevard, Old Norcross Road, Steve Reynolds Boulevard, Merchants Way, Kroger Boulevard, Pineland Road, Sweetwater Road, Pleasant Hill Road, Tandy Key Lane, Commerce Avenue, Liddell Lane and East Liddell Lane. In mid-June, two sidewalk projects along Steve Reynolds Boulevard and Old Norcross Road were completed. Additional sidewalks will be installed as part of the intersection improvement projects along Venture Drive. Those projects will be completed by February 2020.
For more information about streetscape enhancements, visit our projects page.