Rockin’ Around the QC
By: Nicole Eaton, Charlotte Communications & Marketing
Have you noticed bright blue CLT250 rocking chairs popping up around Charlotte? The chairs are a part of #RockWithCLT, a placemaking initiative encouraging community building, and they’re fun, too!
Why chairs?
The idea sprung from the City of Charlotte’s Placemaking Team under the Urban Design Center in the Planning, Design & Development department. Thinking of ways to make public spaces more inviting where neighbors, businesses and communities can come together, Monica Holmes, placemaking manager, thought why not rocking chairs?
“We chose rocking chairs as a symbol of the city’s charm, encouraging people to stop and take in the environment, and celebrate their public spaces,” said Holmes. “We want to build on the city’s welcoming reputation while encouraging Charlotteans to explore the possibilities of shaping our community together.”
The bright blue color ties into the city’s CLT250 celebration. As a part of CLT250, the rocking chairs go toward the city’s goal of completing 250 projects in the community by the end of the year.
Why placemaking?
Along with the CLT250 logo, the chairs display the city’s placemaking website so when people use the chairs, they can see how they can city support to implement projects in their own communities.
Placemaking is all about building community together and transforming public spaces useful and engaging spaces. The placemaking website is a one-stop shop that points neighborhoods, communities and businesses to public realm enhancement resources, including:
- Funding opportunities,
- Emerging artist opportunities, and
- Tools to implement projects in public spaces.
The chairs also support the city’s commitment to sustainability. The chairs are made from recycled plastic milk jugs.
A team effort
Dispersing 100 chairs in a day across Charlotte takes a team and planning. The Placemaking Program enlisted the help of Landscape Management in Engineering & Property Management (E&PM) to deliver the chairs. They also worked with employees from Charlotte Department of Transportation, Charlotte Area Transit System, Charlotte Communications & Marketing, City Manager’s Office, Housing & Neighborhood Services, Economic Development, E&PM and Planning, Design & Development for the project. A group of employees also volunteered to assemble chairs. Fleet Maintenance in E&PM not only hosted the chair assembly, they also stored the chairs at one of their locations. After applying the stickers, the chairs were ready to go until launch day.
Where can I find these chairs?
The chairs are intentionally spread out through every council district in the city so that communities across the city can see the chairs and be inspired to start their own projects. There are 25 locations. Want to check it out? Find a chair near you.
Get social
Help spread the word about the chairs. If you find a chair, snap a photo and use #RockWithCLT and #CLT250. Also, follow @CLTgov on social media to find out more about placemaking opportunities and more exciting news about the chairs.
More information
Visit www.charlottenc.gov/placemaking for more information about the program and giveaways!
