Issue link: https://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/320439
Chapter 5 ! Cary Public Art Opportunities 29 Social Gathering Places The Cary Land Use Plan organizes the Town by activity centers, which are the key "building blocks" of the Town's commercial and mixed - use developments. Activity centers contain the shopping, services, recreation, office and institutional facilities that serve the Town's neighborhoods. Higher density housing occurs in mixed - use activity centers and is encouraged for future development in these areas . According to the Cary Comprehensive Plan, a ctivity centers are to be designed as walkable, compact, and pedestrian - and transit - friendly . Public art can be used to create focal points and increase legibility in these areas for a strong sense of community identity. Cary's activity centers are ideal places for public art because artworks can enliven public spaces and add to the sense of place that t he community envisions for these dev elopments. The ideal places for public art are in areas of high levels of pedestrian traffic w here art can be enjoyed by the most people , such as in plazas and streetscapes. Themes and Opportunities The them e and character of public art in activity centers should be site - specific , draw ing from history, geology, folklore, and culture associated with the site . The form and type of art project should be sensitive to the character and scale of its setting ; f or ex ample, digital lighting projects might not be appropriate for highway corridors due to traffic safety issues, while they might be well - suited to a pedestrian - focused downtown setting. Art with elements of sound might be appropriate in parks and large open spaces, but not in or near residential neighborhoods. Fig. 21, 22 A green wall installation adds atmosphere, while the paving in front of the Cary Arts Center helps space become place.