Tahlequah Cultural District Creative Placemaking

TAHLEQUAH [Ta-li-qua]

CULTURAL DISTRICT CREATIVE PLACEMAKING

CHEROKEE NATION CITY OF TAHLEQUAH OU College of Architecture OKLAHOMA ARTS COUNCIL Institute for Quality Communities OU COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE 830 VanSTUDIO/TULSA Vleet Oval, Gould Hall OU URBAN DESIGN Norman, Oklahoma 73019 OU INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY COMMUNITIES

OU College of Architecture Institute for Quality Communities 830 Van Vleet Oval, Gould Hall Norman, Oklahoma 73019 iqc.ou.edu

Contents Introduction 2 Project Site 3 Collaborators 4 Schedule 5 Site Visit 6 Community Strengths 9 Tasks 11 Design Recommendations 12 Resources 45

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Introduction In September, 2015, the Tahlequah DesignWorks Team headed to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to look at the historic downtown. Working with the recently published report titled “Tahlequah’s Cultural District Development, The Future of the Arts and Culture in Downtown Tahlequah,” the team members focused on the four core values in the plan: •

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Promote a vibrant and culturally rich downtown that attracts residents and visitors, and enhances economic activity for local businesses.

Expand economic opportunities for local artists of all disciplines.

Serve as a focal point for community pride and a primary gathering place for youth and families.

Contribute to a vibrant and natural downtown environment that is pedestrian and bicycle friendly.

With these core values in mind, team members quickly, but thoroughly, studied the designated cultural district that lies within the historic downtown area. With such a unique area, our recommendations formed easily!

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Project Site

Collaborators University of Oklahoma, College of Architecture-CoA Institute for Quality Communities-IQC Urban Design Studio, Tulsa-OUUDS

Community representatives:

Shane Hampton/IQC Ron Frantz/IQC Hope Mander/IQC Shawn Schaefer/OUUDS Erik Baker/CoA

Anita Thompson, Assistant Dean Dean of Liberal Arts Administration Northeastern University

Students: Matt Crownover/Regional and City Planning/ Landscape Architecture Paulina Baeza/OUUDS Amanda Yamaguchi/OUUDS Maryam Moradian/OUUDS

Special thanks to the Cherokee Nation,Tahlequah Main Street Association, Tour Tahlequah, the City of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University, Arts Council of Tahlequah and the Tahlequah Daily Press as well as committed and creative Tahlequah citizens.

We also extend our appreciation to the creative staff members of the Oklahoma Arts Council who are such good stewards of the state’s artistic resources and to Georgia Williams who provided such a thorough document from which to work.

Donna M. Tinnin, Community Tourism Manager Cherokee Nation

Donetta Johnson, Culture & Tourism Coordinator Cherokee Nation Renee Fite, Writer Tahlequah Daily Press

Stephen Highers, Manager, Entrepreneur Development Cherokee Nation

Drew Haley, Program Manager Tahlequah Main Street Association Bree Long, Executive Director Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce

Anna Knight, Executive Director Cherokee Nation Commerce

Monica Brown, Artist Tahlequah Warren Hawk, Grants Administrator Cherokee Nation, Solutions Department Melissa Harris, Director Tahlequah Convention and Visitors Bureau

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Schedule Tuesday, September 15 11:00 a.m.

Arrival of team

11:15 a.m.

Lunch at Kawi Café – Indian Taco Tuesday

12:30 p.m.

Walking tour – team toured the district boundaries

4:30 p.m.

Informal presentation

6:30 p.m.

Team evaluated day’s observations

Wednesday, September 16 Design Works Team working on own 12:00 noon

Lunch at Vidalia’s – team presented initial findings

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Walking tour with the stakeholders Tripp Muldrow talks about community identity

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TASKS: PLACEMAKING is about a Place that is Cared for and Is Caring. Candy Chang It is often achieved by creating GATEWAYS and PUBLIC PLACES drawing DISTRICT BOUNDARIES to emphasize its OWN IDENTITY to TIE IT ALL TOGETHER where people love to gather while HIGHLIGHTING and experiencing COMMUNITY CULTURE 11

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Locations for art interventions The team used urban design concepts to enhance the entry into the Tahlequah Cultural Distirict. This gateway not only visually defines the district but also aids visitors to move around the district.

The whole district will have colorful crosswalks to further define the area.

Community members can choose any color and design combination and be creative as they wish.

The district also will have functional elements such as improved lighting and wayfinding signs.

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Using art will improve the visibility of the area and encourage walking.

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Successful marketing of the district is essential for its success.

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A gateway can be created by painting the buildings on

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each side of the intersection leading into the district.

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Transforming Structure into a Sculpture

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Evening view

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Once considered a visual intrusion,a telecommunication tower can become a community landmark. The material for the covering could be made of light mesh/metal where different lights would reflect the season or the community event.

Each rendering shows different time of day and different lighting.

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Signage

Good signage provides better public access and connectivity to tie history with a place and promote community identity.

Consistent lighting throughout the district will improve safety. Here are a few examples of these installations.

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TAHLEQUAH CULTURAL TRAIL MUSEUM

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TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA CULTURAL TRAIL

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TAHLEQUAH

COURTHOUSE

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OKLAHOMA

Cultual Trail

LODGING

Cultural District Downtown Shopping District

TAHLEQUAH FLOYD NORRIS PARK

Welcome

Welcome

NSU Campus

NSU CAMPUS

DOWNTOWN

MUSEUM

Prison Museum

The Cherokee National Prison was the

only penitentiary building in the entire Indian Territory from 1875 to 1901. It housed sentenced or accused prisoners from throughout the territory. It was built in 1875 and was created for the purpose of reformation as well as for punishment for offenders.

TAHLEQUAH

TAHLEQUAH

COMMUNITY

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

TAHLEQUAH

P

DOWNTOWN

MUSEUM

Prison Museum

TAHLEQUAH

T

he Cherokee National Prison was the only penitentiary building in the entire Indian Territory from 1875 to 1901. It housed sentenced or accused prisoners from throughout the territory. It was built in 1875 and was created for the purpose of reformation as well as for punishment for offenders.

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Lighting Although there are many symbols we could have chosen to add to the public lighting project in the arts & cultural district, we recommend the seven-pointed star from the Seal of the Cherokee Nation.

An elegant symbol for the ancient clans of the Cherokee people, each part is separate but united by a common-core, a single-bond. This is the perfect symbol for the cultural arts district on Muskogee Avenue, where all groups are welcome and free to enjoy the beauty of the town.

All stars emit light in the darkest of places, give hope and warmth to the bodies that surround it, and provide an anchor – a single point of guidance from where all people can find themselves.

Just as our lamp posts serve to light the streets in the arts district and guide pedestrian wayfinding, we believe that they show the unified effort of all the people groups in Tahlequah who long for a place as rare and special as Muskogee Avenue.

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ART with MURALS

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BENCH [ga-nv-hi-di-ga-s-gi-lo]

TREE [tlu-gv]

To capture the cultural heritage of Tahlequah and the district’s spirit, the murals can adorn the blank walls where appropriate. This particular example inspired by the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, displays statements in English and Cherokee languages.

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The current History Trail terminates at the Cherokee Nation Court House.

Extending the trail through the Historic Cherokee Prison and connecting to Muskogee Avenue will allow visitors to expereince Main Street and create more economic opportunities.

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Providing shade will allow visitors to sit down and reflect at this important historic site.

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Resources: Oklahoma Arts Council http://www.muralarts.org/ https://www.arts.gov/grants-organizations/our-town/introduction http://www.artplaceamerica.org/our-work/national-grants-program/introduction https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/CreativePlacemaking-Paper.pdf

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OU College of Architecture Institute for Quality Communities 830 Van Vleet Oval, Gould Hall Room 165 Norman, Oklahoma 73019-6141