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Interim Plaza Program

Program Overview

The Interim Plaza Program allows residents, neighborhood groups, or property owners to transform underutilized streets or spaces of streets into public spaces using low-cost materials.

 

Interim Plaza Program Guidelines

Why Interim Plazas? 

In March 2022, Milwaukee’s Gathering Places Feasibility Study identified several opportunities to grow Milwaukee's network of gathering places; interim plazas were one of those opportunities. 

What is an Interim Plaza? 

  • Interim plazas transform underutilized streets or areas of streets into public spaces using low-cost materials, such as paint, movable planters, flexible delineator posts, and seating.
  • Interim plazas reconfigure space that might otherwise be underutilized or unnecessary for automobile traffic, or unsafe for people walking. 
  • Interim plazas can range in complexity from eliminating a right turn slip lane to completely shutting down a section of a street to through traffic. 
  • Interim plazas also serve as low-cost trials to evaluate more permanent changes to streets and right of way. 
  • Interim plazas are successful when they are developed in partnership with business improvement districts or community groups in the area. 

Ready to submit an application? 

Please reference the Interim Plaza Program guidelines, linked above, for more information about the Interim Plaza Program process and guidelines. For updated instructions on filling out an Interim Plaza Permit application, please contact [email protected].

Interim Plaza Grant Program 

In 2023 and 2024, the Department of Public Works issued Interim Plaza Grants to community organizations through a competitive application process to build out public spaces in neighborhoods and along commercial corridors. Several of those grants resulted in new community gathering spaces. At this time, there is no active Interim Plaza Grant program.