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Friday, 07 October 2011 10:03

Written by Diana Nelson Jones

Pittsburgh may be one of America’s best cities to live in, but do we have truly great places? I’m talking about the kind of places that the Project for Public Spaces might know about. PPS is based in New York.

In partnership with Planitizen, PPS is holding a contest for people to vote for what they consider the greatest places.

The criteria are accessibility, comfort and positive image, a range of activities and uses and sociability — an attractive place that’s easy to get to, where a lot of cool things are happening, where people naturally connect and that makes you feel good.

If you’re thinking about your neighborhood pub, think bigger.

I’m thinking about a place I particularly love  — Allegheny Commons Park on the Northside. It meets all those criteria and even has a giant bird house. Some of you might have the same kind of devotion to Schenley Plaza, a Carnegie Library branch, the Southside Works or Bakery Square. But so that we might earn a place in the Top 10, might I suggest we all vote for the Strip District, our great outdoor market place. On a Saturday morning, everyone's out-of-town guests marvel, no matter where they're from.

It has more than a good chance to hit the mark. (Photo credit goes to Craig Biertempfel.)

The front-runners so far are New York’s Bryant Park, the New Hope Community Farmers Market in New Hope, Minn., and the Circle in Normal, Ill., with New York’s High Line park close behind.

How big is New Hope, Minnesota?, you may ask: TWENTY THOUSAND PEOPLE. And Normal? FIFTY-TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE. This voting is obviously like the All-Star balloting: you get an unlimited number of votes.

If towns the size of New Hope and Normal can be front-runners, Pittsburgh could get the Strip recognized. Check out comments from ahta tahners on Yelp.Except for a couple of people from Washington state who didn't know the secret password, the Strip has national implications.

If you want to vote, vote here. Early and often. Your dead relatives can vote. Ask your relatives in Texas and Florida to weigh in for the Strip, although they probably believe they have great places of their own. Persuade your colleagues to vote for the Strip.

If you reject my suggestion and want to get ideas, check out the database of Great Public Spaces.

Here we go!

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