Precedents and Best Practices Best Practices Generally, best practices for Designing for a walkable environment increases connectivity independent of cars and helps encourages interactions between people and businesses; moreover, the design community elements necessary for walkability – density, sidewalks, landscaping and trees, public art, development resting places, etc. – facilitate outside investment and economic growth. Although Sunset emphasize Drive was built during a car-centric era, that does not mean that El Reno cannot reap the benefits of walkability here as well. Limiting new parking lots, encouraging one- to threewalkability, story buildings on small lots, planting trees and landscaping, and installing sidewalks accessibility, and crosswalks would all increase walkability while also maintaining the character of the and continuous neighborhood. community Accessibility as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act is required by law and is engagement; necessary to be an inclusive community, but accessibility in the broader sense is also these are best critical to a healthy and equitable community. For El Reno, accessibility would mean practices because ADA-compliant sidewalks and crosswalks as well as amenities and services that are easily they each support available to everyone, such as recreational spaces and grocery stores. environmental, Most importantly, continuous community participation is critical to quality city improvements. When residents are left out of the process, city projects typically fail economic, because they do not meet the needs of the people living there currently. Likewise, when a and social community is not continuously engaged after a project is complete, it is often left unused sustainability. and eventually left in disrepair. El Reno already has multiple community-wide events that celebrate the city’s history and Route 66, which is a fantastic asset to this project; however, However, precedents of other Route 66 communities also emphasize historic preservation, resources for local businesses, community programming, neighborhood identity, and advertising.
Sunset Market grocery store on Sunset Drive (Canadian) 18 |
