ASHLAND — Ohio’s historic preservation and Main Street organization recently recognized Foundation Plaza for its “placemaking” ability.
Heritage Ohio awarded Ashland County Community Foundation its 2022 Placemaking Award for the Foundation Plaza project, an award that aims to recognize achievements in preservation and revitalization across the state.
Sandra Tunnell, executive director of Ashland Main Street, accepted the award on behalf of ACCF during the Oct. 4 conference in Toledo. Heritage Ohio is Ashland Main Street’s parent organization.
Tunnell nominated the project for the award, saying Foundation Plaza’s origin story is inspiring.
“Just how they didn’t want to tear down the building, but had to and now it’s a central meeting place for downtown — and it’s beautiful,” she said.
The project’s vision came together a few years ago, when a resident bought the old Weiss Pharmacy building that once stood there. His original intent, said Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, was to rehabilitate the building.
“But he came to us and asked if the city would be interested in the vacant land if he covered the cost of tearing it down,” Miller said. “That’s where it all began.”
Miller said the property happened to be close to Center and Main streets, where a small public gathering space exists already.
“But there was never an easy-to-define center point for Ashland — no place there to build a gathering space. And so up until this point, Corner Park was the sole gathering place for downtown events,” Miller said.
When the resident approached the city, Miller became attracted to the idea of creating a central gathering space, a desire articulated in Ashland’s Targeted Action Plan, an 80-page document prepared in 2018 by stakeholders from the city and ACCF.
The TAP outlined objectives and prioritized projects that would focus on enhancing “the character and brand of the community.”
Number one on the list of priority projects was creating a downtown center space.
ACCF happened to be celebrating its 25th anniversary when planning for the opening of the unnamed plaza, said Jim Cutright, president of ACCF.
“We were looking for a project that would be commemorative of our 25th. So, we decided on a $125,000 capstone grant to bring that to fruition,” he said, adding the grant included naming rights — hence “Foundation” Plaza.
Cutright said it was sad to see such a historic building go. But he said tearing the building down revealed a piece of Ashland history that is now on full display: Selz Royal Blue Shoes.
“So that was restored and touched up. It was a cool little discovered feature,” he said.
Tunnell said there exists a sociological ideology referred to as the third place.
“Where we have houses, work and then a third place where it’s meant to be be more relaxed and a space to be with people — these spaces are part of what makes downtowns great,” she said.
Foundation Plaza, since its dedication in June 2021, has hosted retirement parties, a farmer’s market, concerts, a movie night and an endpoint to the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Foundation Plaza, though it bares a name that suggests ACCF ownership, is owned and maintained by the city. Like other parks, there is a process to rent the space, obtain permits and organize events.
To apply to use the space, click here.
