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January 09. 2015 12:01AM The Plaza phenomenon On a recent wander around our beautiful downtown, despite the chilly temperature, I was warmed by the sight of a diverse group of folks gathered at the Plaza. Young children, bundled up warmly, were playing with their equally sartorially fortified parents. A couple of friendly Labradors lounged happily despite the cold. A colorful gentleman, strumming a guitar through fingerless gloves, was giving a surprisingly stellar rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat". All in all, it was a scene that gave a compelling case for the charm and community cohesion represented by the town plaza. Our own little plaza has been through a few incarnations — the most recent revitalization has been a controversial topic — since it emerged as a natural gathering place back in the mid-1850s for the seniors of Ashland. These town elders would gather most days for a little sun, some conversation, and to drink deeply from the town's lithia fountains. But the history of the town plaza goes back as far as the Aztecs in 1110 AD. The pueblo structure was not complete without a central, formalized plaza where gatherings (and, some say, sacrifices) often took place. At the Aztec Ruins National Monument in New Mexico, there is a prominent plaza to the east of the Great Kiva, the primary religious structure of the community. Later, throughout Spanish America, the plaza (or plaza mayor as it was called) served as an epicenter of pastoral, administrative and political power. It was usually bordered by a church, and often by the administrative offices of the town, as well. In many cases, a plaza was used as a staging area for displays of conquistador might, designed for use as a military staging area in a traditional grid pattern, the design for which itself evolved from the Roman Empirical castrum, or legionary encampment. In the United Kingdom, plazas and town squares were built as a core component of urban redevelopment after the London Blitz. This was seen as a potent gesture towards normalcy following a harrowing wartime experience. In Southeast Asia and Indonesia, plazas (or "alun-alun") were used as a staging area for monarchical entertainment, as sanctioned by the rulers of the kratons (royal palace compounds) by which the areas were traditionally flanked. The largest plaza in the world is Xinghai Square, situated in Dalian, China. It's over 11 million square feet in size. One might wonder how many of those unattractive dark gray pavers on our little plaza may have been needed to finish such a project! Through the years, the traditions of utility that have made these gathering places symbolic of military and feudal might, of political and state power, seems to negate the concept of a "place for all". Luckily, we've evolved to the point where, in towns and cities across America, the plaza is now a place for benevolent action, friendly visitation and social cohesion. They have also been potent venues for grassroots social change, where everything from the Arab Spring to the Occupy movement have reached their critical mass. WIlliam H. Whyte, the legendary urban planner, once said that public spaces were necessary because “What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people.” On a crisp winters day in the heart of Ashland, I'm inclined to think he was right. Jeffrey Gillespie's writing has appeared in the  Santa Fean and American Art Collector magazines, the Portland Mercury and Willamette Week. He  lives in Ashland. http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20150109/OPINION/150109882 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->