Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group to Discuss Placemaking and Public Art Plans

The Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group will hold a special meeting to discuss comprehensive plans for placemaking and public art aimed at revitalizing Pasadena’s neighborhoods affected by the 710 freeway. The meeting is scheduled to include a detailed presentation by consultant Hood Design on public realm concepts that seek to enhance community connectivity and celebrate local culture. This session is set to provide Pasadena residents and businesses with insight into upcoming urban design strategies that emphasize inclusive gathering spaces and green infrastructure.

At the core of the discussion will be a memorandum from Advisory Group Chair Danny Parker and Vice-Chair Blair Miller outlining a vision for placemaking that bridges socioeconomic divides and fosters cross-community interaction. The memorandum proposes physical elements such as an amphitheater or other gathering space with lawn and elevated seating, a civic gathering space for larger events, and multiple smaller shaded areas designed for social engagement.

Additional elements include shade trees, lighting, planters, public art installations, water features, and retail spaces incorporating “third spaces” like cafes that encourage lingering and community building.

This meeting will also address innovative ideas that require further market study, including live/work units for artists and food entrepreneurs, dedicated nonprofit office space, urban agriculture integration, and an internal “maker space” to support local creativity. Programming concepts such as performances, festivals, storytelling focused on the history of the 710 corridor and Pasadena at large, public markets, food cart pavilions, and rotating art exhibits will be explored as tools to activate these spaces year-round. Notably, a letter from community advocate Marcus Renner will be presented, proposing the creation of a Reconnecting Communities interpretive center to honor displaced neighborhoods and act as a hub for civic participation.

Complementing the memorandum, the Hood Design presentation will elaborate on public realm ideas emphasizing themes of celebrating lifeways, weaving everyday experiences, pausing for reflection, and commemoration. The consultant will highlight the importance of “awareness of green” — green spaces and vegetation — and “awareness of blue” — water features and stormwater detention — as integral to the proposed urban village concept. Design features like bosques (grouped trees), allees (tree-lined walkways), flow-through shrub lines, canyon terraces, and a boulevard with paseos will be showcased as elements intended to create a cohesive and inviting public realm that supports recreation, socialization, and environmental stewardship.

This meeting will be significant for Pasadena’s residents and business owners as it lays the groundwork for revitalizing public spaces along the 710 corridor, improving quality of life, and stimulating economic activity. The placemaking strategy and public art investments aim to foster a sense of place and community identity while addressing past disruptions caused by freeway construction. Local businesses, especially in the retail and creative sectors, may find opportunities in the proposed “third spaces” and maker spaces intended to attract foot traffic and community engagement.

The Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group is scheduled to meet at 5:30 P.M. on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 in the Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103. For more information call (626) 744-7311 or visit https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/agendas/.