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VII EXISTING FACILITIES Redwood City already has many highly valuable public spaces, and those in the Downtown Core are located and designed so that they may contribute to and be incorporated into the greater network of public plazas and parks. Through the initial analysis of existing public spaces, Theater Way, Courthouse Square, and Arguello Plaza have been determined as a few of the most valuable existing public spaces Downtown, and should be considered as places to learn from or enhance. THEATER WAY www.yel p. com/biz_photos/indigo-apartment-homes-redwood-city Theater Way is an example of a successful pedestrian oriented and highly programmed streetscape that serves as a key North-South link between the CalTrain Station/Box and Courthouse Square. Theater Way is further activated by allowing uses to be shared within the street right -of way. For example, the portion of Theatre Way that is directly in front of 830 Middlefield Road is used for loading/unloading during certain times of the day, outdoor dining at other times of the day and is occasionally used for parking. This type of flexibility allows the street to shift between auto -oriented and more pedestrian focused uses. The primary lesson learned from the successful execution of Theatre Way is that existing right-of- way in the Downtown core can be redesigned to serve multiple functions such as parking, outdoor seating and event space all in one. 24 SEPTEMBER 2018 COURTHOUSE SQUARE www. redwoodcity. org/home As a highly programmed and heavily used plaza in Downtown, Courthouse Square anchors many of the businesses and civic uses in the Downtown core. Courthouse Square is an important and highly successful central node for Downtown Redwood City, and should be complemented by any new park that will be built Downtown, not competed with. The programming for Courthouse Square includes a calendar of events, containing specific activities that draw in many citizens and visitors, and provides locations for vendors and market stalls. The space was designed so that it is open and highly visible, providing for plenty of "eyes on the park", which sets it as a successful CPTED example that any future park should follow. The space is also known to serve as an important leisure area when there are no scheduled events on, but due to the amount of hardscape on-site, the space does not provide a substantial amount of shade or picnic areas that the community would like to see Downtown. A R G U E L LO PLAZA w w w. re d wo o d c i ty. o rg/h o m e Arguello Plaza is a central open space in Downtown, and although it is underutilized, it has the potential to be a real value to the City. While the Downtown Precise Plan anticipates that the plaza would be eliminated when Broadway and the railroad tracks are grade separated; if and when this will happen is unknown. Changes to the transit center and new transit service could also influence the Plaza. In the meantime, there are ways to activate Arguello Plaza with programming. The space is large enough to hold a band or performance, for example. Minor investments in the space could set it up as an anchor and boost activity, diminishing unwanted behavior that has occurred over time. 0 v cQ (D M 00