Summer expected to draw unprecedented crowds with numerous events

With most stores returning to near pre-pandemic conditions, the outlook in Downtown Fayetteville is changing. 

The imagery is bright, it is bold and it appears to be shedding the mood of the past year under COVID-19 restrictions, building what some are calling an increased momentum of resilience. 

Examples of a desire to feel normalcy again are beginning to shine.. 

The shimmering, glowing public art exhibit, Prismatica, is one of the many public art initiatives from this past year. 

Flags and banners line light poles. Fireworks light the sky every Friday home game at Segra Stadium with crowds cheering Fayetteville’s Woodpeckers baseball team. 

Colorful painted crosswalks introduce the four entrances to the core downtown area. 

Visually appealing public art sculptures line the public spaces and sidewalks to enhance an exhilarating downtown experience.. 

“It’s been a hard year,” said Bianca Shoneman, president and chief executive officer of the Cool Spring Downtown District. 

Some of the imagery appearing downtown is the result of new ideas generated by a desire to shed the pandemic dreariness.

“Thinking through recovery with other leaders in the downtown industry was key as we discussed strategy and secure responses to COVID and protests,” Shoneman said.

Fayetteville Parks and Recreation added bright banners. The Public Art Commission through the city’s planning department has helped with adding 18 pieces of public art with plans to change out to keep the sculptures and the like fresh and exciting.

“As we worked through the downtown five-prong approach and started to really think through recovery, the vibe just kept coming up with the colorful images, public art and the new energy,” Shoneman said. “The vibe downtown is leading the way to our post recovery stage. 

The five-prong approach to downtown management includes economic vitality, marketing and promotions, design and placemaking, programs and events and community. 

Shoneman said each facet works together as a balance, or like a coordinating puzzle piece. 

Open shops and restaurants need people to experience, in turn people want a beautiful place to explore. 

The State of District 2020 report is one of the major steps in letting the public know about the message and the strength of partnership in the downtown area. 

Each step is not isolated and every organization, business and municipal service all work together to create the goal of a fun-filled experience downtown. 

The recent painting underneath the Maiden Street bridge with colorful shapes and other painted storefronts have passed through the Historic Resources Commission and added to the Cool Spring Downtown District as a destination for arts and entertainment. 

Anyone headed downtown can feel what Shoneman described as a “vibe,” but they can also see the visible effects of the last few years. Since the Cool Spring Downtown District was created in 2017, more than $125 million in investment has been completed or is under way including 45 new businesses, more than 54,000 gross square feet of new residential space and the opening of Segra Stadium. 

The new post-recovery energy is coming out with the opening and reopening of new businesses and economic development.

Along with that growth, the Municipal Tax District has seen a 12.3 percent increase in collections from 2016 to 2019. The district, which was created in 1978, encompasses the core downtown area for businesses within the district to raise money earmarked for beautification efforts and other downtown projects such as streetscape improvements and marketing to help promote business investment and tourism. 

Along with the business growth, events are a major part of getting more  of the “feet on the street and diners in their seats” objective. Primastica alone increased foot traffic downtown by 30 percent during that same period, according to the district report. 

“We are coming out of the pandemic going from 24 public events to 60 this upcoming year along with the new overall marketing campaign that will touch a variety of media,” said Shoneman. 

The District Summer Market is one of those initiatives under the approach. 

Planned to take place every Thursday evening in Festival Park through Aug. 26, the event has about 25 vendors selling products each week. Sellers include farmers, ranchers, artists, makers and other creative types as a part of the “Can Do” community, each helping create the Cool Spring Downtown District as a viable arts-and-entertainment, one-stop shop. Also planned are a host of food trucks, outdoor games and live music. 

“The vibe is celebration and we should celebrate,” Shoneman said. “We are quantifying jobs and inspiring new investment.”

Shoneman explained how jobs may be created.

“One of our many food trucks coming to the District Summer Market could be our next bricks and mortar restaurant,” she said. “It is almost like an incubator for entrepreneurs.”

Betsy McElwee, the marketing and events coordinator for the Fayetteville Downtown Alliance, said that the DTA has also had to adapt and get really creative. Outdoor events such as their scavenger hunts helped get people on the sidewalks again. 

“People were able to do the scavenger hunts while socially distanced and outside,” McElwee said. “I think it made people feel safe, which was important to us,” “Our Grinch event “the Green Grump who Stole Foo-ville” blew us away in December. We have so many more people downtown than we expected. People are looking for a bit of normal again.”

The outdoor, scavenger hunts are just part of the upcoming events that the Downtown Alliance is planning along with the other events partnered with the Cool Spring Downtown District, the Arts Council and more downtown.  

“We have the Chocolate Stroll coming up on June 17-19,” McElwee said. “We have various activities with chocolate being the core focus. We will have chocolate tastings, special menus in our restaurants and samples offered in stores or under tents outside. It’s going to be fun. We even have business like The Sweet Palette transforming into Willy Wonka-esque experience for the weekend. It helps our businesses when we bring tons of people downtown with these events. Events and our social media marketing, promoting our small businesses, it all works together.”