Future of Morgan Square: Spartanburg residents suggest benches, green spaces, water features

Morgan Square may become one of the busiest spots in downtown Spartanburg with families playing in splash pads on hot days, walking paths to stroll along and long benches where people can sit and enjoy the view.

These ideas were some of the features in the redesigns for Morgan Square. City administrators unveiled three potential plans for the redesign Tuesday evening to a group eager to offer feedback.

The drop-in community workshop was held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Morgan Square. Spartanburg Communications Manager Christopher George estimated around 75 people attended in the first half-hour.

Residents were able to view three initial concept designs for Morgan Square, leave notes on what they liked and disliked about each plan, and speak with the design team and an arborist.

George said the feedback gathered at the event, along with input from the Morgan Square Enhancement Committee, will be used to create a final draft design that will be presented during another public workshop. City staff hopes to be able to present a final design to the City Council for approval in July.

"We just started in December so it's been a really effective, efficient process. But I think part of the reason it's gone so quickly is we've gotten such great feedback," George said. "Everybody's interested. We don't have to beg people to tell us what they think about Morgan Square."

What do the initial concept designs for Morgan Square look like?

Principal designer Andy Knight of MKSK provided insight into the ideas behind the three preliminary designs.

Knight said the first design titled “Knitting Into the Urban Fabric” was inspired by the downtown grid. The second concept “Celebrating the Landscape” was inspired by Spartanburg’s place in the foothills and features a rolling, curving landscape. The third concept “Hub City: Coming Together” was designed to encourage community gathering and programming.

“These are in response to our community workshop that we had several weeks ago where we got a lot of really great content,” Knight said. “I’m really excited by the input that we're getting so far.”

From the last workshop: City residents share 5 ways to improve, redesign Morgan Square

All of the designs include new seating options, new water features and the option for public restrooms. The first and second designs feature pavilions. Splash pads, swings, long benches, and walking paths also were some of the highlighted features of the designs.

Another thing all three plans had in common? The sections of Dunbar and Main streets that run by Morgan Square were closed off.

“Coming from the committee and from City Council, the energy has been around keeping the street closed, particularly Main Street, but there’s been talk about Dunbar as well," George said. "It didn’t seem that any designs that would leave the street open were really feasible if we want to create a pedestrian-centered space.”

Residents favor redesigns preserving trees, green space in downtown Spartanburg

Attendees were largely in favor of public restrooms, green spaces for playing and picnicking and preserving as many existing trees as possible.

"I like the theater and the public restrooms are a must. I would really like to see more uniform seating and more seating available to the public in general instead of just for restaurants," said Amanda Wilson, who reviewed the plans.

One feature she didn't see and felt will be necessary is accessible parking near the space.

"I'd like to just make sure that they make that extremely accessible," Wilson said.

Chris Walker and Molly Cashman own Blue Moon Specialty Foods and Blue Moon Bodega in downtown Spartanburg. They both reviewed the plans and liked the idea of redesigning Morgan Square to bring more people downtown.

"I'm really excited about the intentional and thoughtful approach to the planning of the new Morgan Square. I especially love the idea where it would be a more walkable downtown and love that all of the new spaces have a real emphasis on green space," Cashman said. "I'm excited for the future of downtown Spartanburg."

Walker felt that many of the proposed features, like a stage, water features, trees, and public restrooms were important and that making downtown visitors comfortable was essential.

"Bottom line is, the more that we can do to bring more people downtown, the better for all of us," Walker said.

Samantha Swann covers city news, development and culture. She is a University of South Carolina Upstate and Greenville Technical College alumna. Contact her at sswann@shj.com or on Instagram at @sameatsspartanburg. Can't get enough food news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for foodies, Spartanburg Eats.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Morgan Square designs revealed; final design coming as soon as July