805A: Re-Visioning Museum Square in Downtown Woodstock

September 22, 2022

1:15PM - 2:00PM

Museum Square and City Hall block is an important historical and cultural space at the heart of downtown Woodstock. MHBC was retained to provide landscape architectural, planning, and urban design services that looked at this important space and considered challenges and opportunities. Numerous considerations came through the extensive consultation process. This included the need for enhanced safety, accessibility, and design features that will serve a diverse range of Woodstock’s population.

The project itself began with an in-depth study of the existing conditions and current uses. Background data was acquired, and a significant number of stakeholder engagement meetings were held to truly understand the needs for the space. We met with a multitude of special interest groups and committees to ensure the future urban square would meet the large variety of needs within Woodstock. The design of the Museum Square included multiple considerations: heritage; sustainability, accessibility active transportation, and transient populations. Public engagement was critical in garnering feedback on how the space is currently used and what could be improved. In addition to smaller group consultation sessions, a large public meeting and an online survey were used to generate feedback.

Our round-table discussion will include the City’s project manager, Brad Hammond, and the planning, urban design, and landscape architecture team at MHBC. Through this session, we will discuss the importance of meaningful consultation; how landscape can transform a public space; and the role of the City in ensuring the continued success of our downtown public spaces. Attendees of this session will be able to view the 3D model of the square through interactive QR code links. We look forward to hearing how other Cities have revitalized public urban spaces in a post-COVID world.

Speakers