Peavey Plaza, public plaza in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota
Peavey Plaza is a large open space in downtown Minneapolis with modern design and geometric shapes. The space features water fountains, tiered steps for seating, sculptures, grassy slopes, and wide paved pathways that are easy for everyone to walk on.
The plaza was designed in 1975 by M. Paul Friedberg and his team to create a new type of outdoor space that would not compete with a nearby shopping mall. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, recognizing its importance in architecture and urban planning history.
The plaza takes its name from the Peavey family, who shaped Minneapolis's lumber and shipping industries. Local residents use this space for work breaks and city festivals, and it visually bridges the city's past and present through its surrounding mix of modern and older buildings.
The plaza is open to the public year-round in any weather and is easy to find downtown near cultural venues and shopping areas. Wide ramps and smooth pathways make the space simple to walk through and accessible for all people.
A special feature is the amphitheater-style seating arranged around a sunken basin that fills with water in summer and freezes for ice skating in winter. This dual function makes the space a year-round gathering spot with different activities in each season.
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