State College celebrates grand opening of East End Social downtown ‘pocket park’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Downtown State College opened the East End Social pocket park on Hiester Street in May.
- DSCID received a $76,753 Local Share Account grant to fund the East End Social project.
- Summer programming for East End Social will include World Cup watch parties and classes.
For those walking near Hiester Street in downtown State College on Thursday evening, it was impossible to miss the street packed with people beaming with excitement about the arrival of something new and long-sought in the community.
That event marked the official launch of the Downtown State College Improvement District’s East End Social project, a “pocket park” space that converts Hiester Street, from Calder Way to College Avenue, into a pedestrian-only public event destination from May to early August.
East End Social soft launched earlier this month, but Thursday’s official grand opening and first summer block party drew hundreds of people to see the space, which is decked out with lush street planters, picnic tables, Adirondack chairs and starry outdoor lights.
State College Mayor Ezra Nanes kicked off Thursday’s event, followed by remarks from other local leaders who noted the importance of seeing East End Social finally come to life.
“As long as I’ve been involved in civic life here in State College, people have been talking about, dreaming about, working on, hoping for something just like this, and here we are making it happen today,” Nanes said.
Centre County Commissioners Mark Higgins and Amber Concepcion expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the project and what it means to the community.
“The organizers are re-imagining what downtowns can be and should be, not just a place to pass through, but a place to belong,” said Higgins, adding how the project works as a third place, outside of work and home that connects people to the wider community.
“Many people work remotely, they work frequently, or they struggle meeting others outside of work or school, and that’s why third places matter so much. They create opportunities for spontaneous conversation, friendships, networking, creativity and civic life. They help turn neighbors into a community across the country. Cities are rediscovering how valuable these public gathering spaces can be. East End Social reflects that movement with a uniquely State College vibe.”
Concepcion acknowledged the excitement for the project and how outdoor events that close traffic to prioritize pedestrians such as the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts — and now East End Social — benefit community life.
“The turnout here today, of people attending, shows how excited we all are to have a space like this in our community,” she said. “So many of the social relationships that are built and reinforced during those times center around the people you run into that you might not see otherwise, so it just becomes such a dynamic part of our community during the summers, and having this permanently here this summer, I think, is going to be a fantastic experiment.”
A similar project, “Summers on Allen,” led by the Centre Foundation, nearly came to fruition in 2020 after receiving approval from Borough Council. The proposal would have transformed the 100 block of South Allen Street into a temporary two-month pedestrian plaza featuring community events and programming while closing the street to vehicle traffic. But the initiative was ultimately shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, East End Social serves as a similar concept on the opposite side of downtown, aiming to draw more pedestrian activity and community engagement to one of the borough’s busiest commercial areas.
There will be ongoing summer programming that includes events such as a World Cup watch party, creative movement classes, a mom walk and a Rhonymeade street party, said Lee Anne Jeffries, executive director of DSCID. However, the public is also encouraged to use the space for social and/or relaxing moments, such as eating lunch, reading a book and meeting friends.
The vision is to create a place “where community happens,” with residents, volunteers and community members activating the space through programming and events, she said.
Jonathan Friedman, CEO of Comet Properties, which partnered with the DSCID to create the project, said he was inspired by a similar concept in other parts of the world.
“A couple of years ago, my parents were in South America. When they came back, they spoke to me about these little pocket parks that were popping up in towns and cities,” he said. “I think it was Argentina, and it gave me the idea to put profound space for people in the community to engage in, whether it be just a one or two parking spaces or four blocks, they became the center for what was a rediscovering and redefining of the community.
“Today, standing in East End Social, I believe it is the actual blooming of that concept where anyone can find a place here in downtown, engage and feel welcome, warm, and supported in this place.”
Initial funding was received by the State College Redevelopment Authority, which awarded DSCID a $76,753 grant for the project through a state Local Share Account program administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.
Jeffries recognized the businesses and organizations that contributed resources to make summer programming for the project possible, including Family Clothesline, the Student Bookstore, Growing Tree Toys and others.
“I’m especially grateful for the neighboring business owners, many of whom are here tonight, who have embraced this project from day one,” she said.
The pocket park is open and accessible around the clock, but all summer programming events will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Updates and news on programming events can be found on DSCID’s website calendar.
