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INTRODUCTION Downtown Pleasanton is an unusually well preserved and beloved town center. It functions as a pedestrian-oriented experience, where street life is leisurely and social. Much of its vitality comes from the many coffee bars and restaurants on Main Street that offer outdoor dining, providing opportunities for interaction between diners and passersby. In many ways Main Street retains the character of an earlier era, one defined by a close-knit community, in which a leisurely stroll becomes a community event. The more typical contemporary automobile-induced sprawl does exist in greater Pleasanton, but within the confines of downtown one enters a slower and more personal world. Downtown is in most every way a successful and complete small town center with no overt visual or physical feature or element calling out for attention or addition. The physical structure of downtown is a wonderfully scaled walking environment. There are well- preserved early twentieth century buildings from various decades and more recent infill buildings. Mature trees, abundant planters and seating all contribute to a fully realized streetscape. In addition to the spine that Main Street provides for gathering, there are several adjacent open spaces including Lions Wayside Park, DeLucchi Park, Arroyo del Valle and Main Street Green. These are small open spaces that maintain individual functions. Each is a relatively neutral open space and therefore, more appropriate for and in more need of the addition of public art. The fact that Main Street is already a successful gathering place for Pleasanton residents and visitors provides a unique opportunity for public art. The Downtown Public Art Plan recommends a series of projects that envision Main Street as a site for family fun and enjoyment with contemporary art as a primary attraction. Unlike Main Street, adjacent open spaces remain works-in-progress. Each is earmarked for improvements in the Master Plan for the Downtown Parks and Trails System. The Downtown Specific Plan identifies opportunities for public art in several parks. There are wonderful opportunities for public art in the parks and along the trails of downtown; these locations are the primary focus of this Downtown Public Art Plan. The Public Art Program is guided by the Civic Arts Commission, which establishes policy for the program and approves public art projects funded by the City. The Downtown Public Art Plan was also guided by input from the Downtown Public Art Plan Task Force, convened in 2005 to provide insights to consultants drafting the plan The Task Force reviewed and approved the Goals and Objectives of the Plan, which were also reviewed and approved by the Civic Arts Commission. The final Plan will be submitted to the Civic Arts Commission for review and recommendation to the City Council. In addition to interviewing over two dozen community representatives, City staff and elected officials, the consultants used several key recent documents that are based on extensive community participation. These include: • Cultural Plan, 1998 • Master Plan for the Downtown Parks and Trails System (DPTS), 2002 • Downtown Specific Plan, 2002 2