Community members helped bring a unique placemaking project to life during the City of Urbandale's Downtown Block Party on October 10, contributing their creativity to A Seat for U and Me, a community-built installation celebrating the character and future of Downtown Urbandale.
Throughout the event, participants of all ages painted and personalized the installation with colorful words that describe what Downtown Urbandale means to them. From fun and welcoming to amazing and exciting, each contribution reflects the energy, diversity, and sense of community that continues to shape the district's identity.
More than a bench, A Seat for U and Me is an interactive placemaking project designed to foster connection, encourage community pride, and create a welcoming gathering place for residents and visitors alike. The finished installation serves as a lasting reminder that vibrant public spaces are created not only through thoughtful design, but through the people who use and shape them.
Substance Architecture extends its thanks to the City of Urbandale, Bolton & Menk, and everyone who participated in making the project a success. We look forward to seeing this one-of-a-kind installation become a gathering place and a lasting symbol of the vibrant future of Downtown Urbandale.
