The function of pedestrian-oriented open space in Knoxville's central business district

Man is constantly affected by his physical environment. Providing pleasant physical elements in open spaces--such as parks, squares, plazas, small green spaces, and sidewalks--helps to produce a better environment in densely developed urban areas. The purpose of this study is to find how the existing open spaces in Knoxville's central business district function by surveying their characteristics of continuity, direction, orientation, center, linkage, enclosure, interruption, circulation, and sequence. A check-list was made to make sure that each site was inspected under the same terms. The data which was obtained by observing the physical items under each characteristic is shown in figures and tables, which indicate the overall condition of a certain survey item. The analysis of the data indicate the strengths and weaknesses of each open space. The result--a description of the character of the whole system of pedestrian open spaces--showed that many marginally functional open spaces break the continuity of open spaces which function well and complement Knoxville's central business district. These findings indicate which places need to be improved the most. Open spaces on Hill Avenue, Main Avenue, Summit Hill Drive, Wall Avenue, Market Square, and Market Street were found to have a relatively pleasant pedestrian environment.