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to follow one basic rule of thumb: The higher cost of concrete pavers
<br /> "Never be afraid of over-promot-
<br /> Ong your organization. There is no could be worth the investment
<br /> uch thing," he asserts. Although concrete pavers (dimen- the surrounding surface—"plus,
<br /> Clinton's Main Street organiza- sionally-consistent,concrete units that there are no ugly patches,"he adds.
<br /> tion and C.A.R.E.have no qualms interlock)are higher in price than
<br /> about aggressively spreading theirPavers help to slow down
<br /> poured concrete and asphalt, "overall, traffic at intersections
<br /> message. For instance, the two
<br /> they give you more for your money," Takingtheir cues from Euro-
<br /> groups together have created a 20-
<br /> asserts David Smith,technical director pean cities, an increasin number of
<br /> page tabloid insert covering the of the Washington,DC-based Inter- g
<br /> central business district and the sur communities in North America have
<br /> locking Concrete Pavement Institute, begun using concrete pavers at
<br /> rounding area.The tabloid, which a 200 lus member or anization that
<br /> comes out annually, covers news p g intersections to slow the speed of
<br /> happening throughout the area as acts as the voice of the concrete vehicular traffic.Although the most
<br /> well as providing in-depth discus- pavement industry. Below are some popular uses for concrete pavers
<br /> sions about the projects that both reasons why concrete pavers may have typically been on sidewalks
<br /> be an option your community should and in crosswalks, Smith says that
<br /> groups are involved with. consider.
<br /> "Whatever your group is work some communities have also begun
<br /> ing on—no matter how small The benefits of using them in parks and a few,like
<br /> some activities may seem—it's concrete pavers Dayton, OH, are using them to pave
<br /> important to find as many ways as Concrete pavers offer multiple streets in historic districts.
<br /> possible to make people aware of benefits for downtowns, Smith In terms of aesthetics,more and
<br /> what you're doing,"Blakney says. explains, particularly when it comes more communities are realizing their
<br /> The tabloid,which was paid for to durability. value in providing downtown with a
<br /> by local advertisers, serves as a In comparison to asphalt and unified architectural appearance.
<br /> •trong promotion tool for down- cast-in-place concrete, concrete "Of course, the buildings
<br /> town that has even helped to gener- pavers eliminate cracking,making themselves have to denote unifor
<br /> mity, but concrete pavers can help
<br /> ate additional revenue for the revi- them last much longer.Addition to achieve that goal," Smith adds.
<br /> talization effort.Despite the$3,000 ally,because the material used on Such is the case in Chattanooga,
<br /> cost for production and distribution, concrete pavers is particularly renis TN, which, he says, relies heavily
<br /> Main Street Clinton ended up with tant to damage from freezing,thaw on concrete pavers to lend unifor-
<br /> about$600 left over, which will be ing and deicing salts, they are espe- mity in parks and along miles of
<br /> used for other downtown projects. cially suited to communities facing sidewalks throughout the central
<br /> Blakney also advises downtown harsh winter conditions.Among the business district.
<br /> organizations to form bonds with the cities that have discovered their bene- Smith also reports an increase in
<br /> media in order to generate coverage. fits are St. Paul and Minneapolis, the number of communities using
<br /> "And don't be afraid to spend MN, along with the Canadian cities engraved pavers (where the names
<br /> money on advertising,"he stresses. of North Bay, Ont., and Quebec. of sponsors have been engraved into
<br /> "Many times, small downtown The latter community paves thou- the surface). Cleveland, OH,for
<br /> organizations are unwilling to spend sands of square feet of downtown instance,features a large number of
<br /> money on advertising because they streets and sidewalks each year with engraved concrete pavers outside of
<br /> think they can't afford it. But part of interlocking concrete pavement. downtown's Rock and Roll
<br /> forming a good relationship with And when it comes to allowing Museum.The pavers have become
<br /> the media is being willing to spend for ease of access to repair under- an important part of downtown's
<br /> for promotion,"he says. "Just think ground utilities, Smith notes that con- fund-raising effort, as the$75 gener-
<br /> about it as an investment in your crete pavers are second to none. In ated for each paver is being used to
<br /> organization's future." comparison to poured concrete,the enhance the area's public spaces.
<br /> •Contact Brett Blakney, Main Street pavers can be easily removed,with- Contact:David Smith, ICPI, (202) 712-
<br /> Clinton/C.A.R.E., (501) 745-7222. • out wasted pavement or damage to 9036; website: www.icpi.org/ICPI. •
<br /> 6 • Downtown Idea Exchange • June 15, 2001
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