2 HOW TO Revitalize


YOUR LOCAL MAIN STREET


★BY BARRY YEOMAN ★ T 4 3


he second half of the 20th century was not kind to America’s Main Streets. Once the hearts of our towns and small cities,


many fell victim to the ap- peal of suburbia. We found what we needed along the edges: quiet cul-de-sacs, in- door malls, the convenience of big-box stores. Mail- order catalogs and then the Internet allowed us to shop from home. But something was lost in the process: the sense of community created by a space where people could watch parades, meet for dinner or drinks, or en- joy an outdoor concert. Today, we’re rediscover-


ing the value of healthy downtowns, which offer history and culture, unique local businesses, and the pleasure of walk- ing along lively streets. “In the past several years, any number of communi- ties have successfully revitalized their down- towns,” says Patrice Frey, president of the National Main Street Center, a


AUGUST 17, 2014 | 7 © PARADE Publications 2014. All rights reserved


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