Public Realm and Placemaking

What is the public realm? It’s the streets, sidewalks, plazas, corners, and parks of a city environment that encourage community activity and support economic vitality.

A properly planned and designed public realm puts the pedestrian first. The Rosslyn BID thinks about the quality, comfort, and aesthetics of the street as it’s planned. We envision an area that is clean and pleasant to be in, comfortable to walk through, and provides choices for folks to sit, relax, and people-watch where food, information, and shopping is readily available.

The BID has undertaken numerous initiatives to help enhance the public realm including:

Public Space Activation

The BID has helped to create and activate street-side public spaces with its moveable tables and Adirondack chairs, encouraging residents, workers and visitors to enjoy Rosslyn.

Streetscape

The BID embarked on a Streetscape Masterplan featuring custom designed, contemporary street furnishings to engage pedestrians and enhance the sidewalk environment.

Beautification

The BID’s landscaping initiatives can be seen throughout Rosslyn's streets, sidewalks, and parks, providing color and greenery year-round. Working through contractors and our ambassador team, the Rosslyn BID installs thousands of flowers annually in baskets, pots, and planting beds throughout Rosslyn.

Public Art

The BID engages temporary public art projects to help solve urban design issues and provide points of interest and landmarks in the public realm. Rosslyn is also home to the largest collection of Arlington County's acclaimed public art.

Parks

Rosslyn's public parks are key assets punctuating the public realm. The BID works cooperatively with Arlington County to activate and enhance these assets for enjoyment of their visitors.