A Community Gathering Place

When the Town of Mansfield began planning for the redevelopment of Downtown Storrs in the late 1990s, one of the first things residents requested was a central gathering space for the community. This request helped guide the plans for the downtown. The vision for the physical attributes of this space evolved as planning developed, but the purpose remained consistent: to create a welcoming place for the whole community.

“The square “will be the place where the Mansfield community, the University, and the larger regional community find common ground. Around the square
will be stores, offices, housing and cultural resources that will ensure that the square becomes a primary destination in the region and an emblem of the collective, civic life of the Town.”

— Storrs Center: Special Design District Design Guidelines

In 2013, the Partnership selected landscape architecture firm Kent + Frost from Mystic, Connecticut, through a competitive process to serve as the lead designer for the Town Square. Then, the Partnership reached out to groups of community stakeholders to gather initial input on the general wishes from the stakeholders for this shared community space. The Partnership returned to these groups for feedback on the design from Kent + Frost as it progressed.

On September 17, 2013, the Partnership held a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed design by Kent + Frost. Following the hearing, the Town’s Director of Planning and Development granted the zoning permit for the square. As part of the Director’s review of the application, the plans were submitted for review and comment to the following Town departments and committees:

Public Works/Engineering
Committee on Needs of Persons with Disabilities
Fire Marshal
Traffic Authority
Recreation Advisory Committee
Open Space Preservation Committee
Parks Advisory Committee

Stakeholder groups that provided input into the design of Betsy Paterson Square included:

Mansfield Departments including:
- Parks and Recreation
- Planning and Development
- Police
- Youth Services
- Senior Services
Mansfield’s Committee on the Needs of Persons with Disabilities
Mansfield Town Council
Mansfield Planning and Zoning Commission
The Garden Gate Club
Mansfield Advocates for Children
Storrs Farmers Market
E. O. Smith High School
Downtown business owners
Faculty and staff from UConn’s Landscape Architecture program and UConn School of Fine Arts
The Partnership’s Board of Directors
The Partnership’s former Advertising and Promotion Committee
The Partnership’s former Planning and Design Committee
LeylandAlliance

Kent + Frost’s final design created a space that can accommodate large community events, such as the Partnership’s annual Celebrate Mansfield Festival, while still being appropriately scaled for daily use by residents. A stage area recedes into the sidewalk when not in use and is flanked by a low sitting wall that visually connects the square with walls in front of E. O. Smith High School across the street. A mix of pavers is an attractive, low maintenance solution to the heavy foot traffic from downtown residents and visitors, while a central lawn disc provides a grassy area for playing and lounging. Trees, shrubs, and other plantings soften and green the space, while decorative trellises and the stage roof add vibrant, year-round color.

The square is a municipally-owned property and is maintained by the Town and managed by the Partnership, but this community space would not be possible without the generous financial support of UConn, the Partnership, LeylandAlliance, and EdR. The Partnership is especially grateful for the support of the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation whose grant provided the funding for the stage roof.

Six years after its completion, Betsy Paterson Square has become the hub of the Mansfield community. The Partnership hosts numerous community events on the square throughout the year, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to Downtown Storrs. A highlight of the year is the Celebrate Mansfield Festival, and annual celebration of the people, businesses, and organizations that make Mansfield unique. The Festival regularly draws over 4,000 visitors of all ages together in a day of community fun.