Ped Mall (Iowa City) Explained

City Plaza (Ped Mall)
Nrhp Type:cp
Nocat:yes
Partof:Iowa City Downtown Historic District
Location:E. College from S. Clinton to S. Linn and S. Dubuque from E. College to Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa
Coordinates:41.659°N -91.5331°W
Built:1979
Architect:Jack Leaman
Architecture:Urban Renewal Landscape Feature
Added:May 27, 2021
Refnum:100006609

The Ped Mall, also known as the Pedestrian Mall, is a pedestrian mall located in downtown Iowa City, Iowa, near the University of Iowa campus. Officially named City Plaza it was completed in 1979 as the centerpiece of the city's urban renewal project.[1] Landscaping was completed the following year. It was designed by Jack Leaman of Associated Engineers, Inc., in Mason City, Iowa. While pedestrian malls were a common feature of urban renewal projects in the United States, the Iowa City Ped Mall is one of the few that is still in existence.[1] Spanning from Burlington Street to Washington Street and Clinton Street to Linn Street, the Ped Mall serves as a gathering place for students, locals, and transients. It draws large crowds for its summertime events such as the Friday Night Concert Series and the annual Iowa City Jazz Festival and Iowa City Arts Festival. The Ped Mall area also contains restaurants, bars, retail, hotels, a playground for children, and the Iowa City Public Library. The Coldren Opera House was located on the street which has now become the mall. In 2021, it was included as a contributing property in the Iowa City Downtown Historic District.[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Iowa City Downtown Historic District. City of Iowa City. 2021-05-28. Alexa McDowell.
  2. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List. National Park Service. May 28, 2021. 2021-05-28.