Perk Park/Chester Commons
Perk Park, formerly Chester Commons, has perhaps the greatest potential to truly revitalize a critical corner of downtown Cleveland. Located at East 12th and Chester Avenue, the park sits in the middle of downtown’s highest concentration of residents.
Perk Park is currently in a blighted, virtually abandoned state and tops the list of ParkWorks’ most critical green spaces in need of renovation. The revitalized park will serve as an anchor supporting this pivotal corner in downtown. With millions of dollars in development in the surrounding blocks this is the most significant project that ParkWorks can undertake in support of downtown's development as an economic and residential neighborhood.
A rebuilt and revitalized Perk Park will serve as an anchor for this corner of downtown, with a sloping great lawn, a variety of benches and seating options, a retail kiosk and a water feature that can be turned off and doubles as a small stage.
In an article published October 28, 2003, Plain Dealer architecture critic Steve Litt was effusive in his praise for the proposed park design and saluted ParkWorks for leading the effort.
"Now - finally! - foundations and nonprofit organizations have realized that big buildings aren’t enough; the city needs beautiful parks and greenspaces if it hopes to compete with its own suburbs for jobs and residents…The best is yet to come. ParkWorks a nonprofit organization devoted to the betterment of public spaces in the city, has completed an excellent design for the renovation of Perk Plaza…The plan for the park is simple, logical and filled with potential to make one corner of downtown more desirable as a place to live and work."
