Court Street Plaza, in Cincinnati Ohio, began as a popular outdoor market in the early 1800’s and is surrounded by historic buildings from the same time period. The 2019 Revitalization Project in the northern part of the central business district transformed a decaying, underutilized area into a bright and bustling business and shopping hub, maintaining the quaint historic atmosphere. A perfect public gathering space, with room for outdoor dining, community artwork displays, festivals and other activities, the plaza attracts people to the shops and restaurants nearby.
The streetscape features widened sidewalks and a beautiful cobblestone road with a historic aesthetic, complemented by street trees and large flower planters. The large, curbless sidewalks make the area more pedestrian-friendly, increase walkability, and allow for the opportunity to close Court Street for organized events. The sidewalk extension included the implementation of permeable pavers. Unilock permeable plank pavers in a Smooth Premier finish were used as means of stormwater management, as well as a tool in promoting street tree health. Tree growth in urban environments can be affected by the use of typical impervious surfaces which reduce the amount of water and nutrients available for the trees. However, the designer for Court Street Plaza chose to install permeable pavers around the trees, allowing for water to easily filter through the joints down into the subbase and into the root system.
The cobblestone road was designed using the luxurious elegance of Courtstone® paving stones. Courtstone is cast from authentic European cobblestones for an authentic appeal that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding architecture of Court street. The Ultima™ technology built into the paver also delivers up to four times the strength of poured-in-place concrete, making it the ideal choice for the busy vehicular traffic of this streetscape.
