Parks Replacing Shopping Centers In Downtown Areas
As more people are turning to internet shopping and boutique stores, malls located in downtown areas across U.S. cities are closing down. Downtown malls have been dying out in these areas in recent years, and cities are opting to build parks, pave new streets, and construct more residential and commercial buildings in their place. In Columbus, Ohio, the City Center shopping center was replaced with Columbus Commons: a new park that includes a concert stage, ball courts, and even a carousel. In addition, the park has retained the underground parking center that was originally a part of the mall.
Aside from vastly changing the downtown landscape, these new spaces could enrich the lives of citizens for the better. People who once used to stroll around malls to shop, socialize, and even de-stress can now go on a promenade across the park, and enjoy a pleasant break from the pressures of urban life.
Esther Lee For The Teen Times (ttt@timescore.co.kr)