Corning's Centerway Square ranked among 'Best Public Squares' in U.S. What sets it apart
Corning's Centerway Square is in the national spotlight once again.
The Crystal City's public gathering space was honored Wednesday among the nation's “Best Public Squares” in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
An expert panel at USA TODAY nominated Centerway Square as one of 20 contenders for Best Public Square in the United States. Voting began March 11 and ended April 8, with the top-10 vote getters recognized Wednesday.
Corning ranked No. 5 in the final tally.
"Public squares have long been the keystones of American communities, serving as the stage for everything from farmers’ markets to historic speeches," reads the contest description. "They're the heartbeats of cities, where culture pulses and people gather."
Corning was also recognized earlier this month for Best Small Town Cultural Scene in the 2024 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
"It’s a tremendous honor and the fact that the square and downtown continue to get accolades on a national stage is huge," said Coleen Fabrizi, Gaffer District Executive Director. "It says that even though we’re a small town we have extraordinary assets that people from all over the world want to come and enjoy."
Why did Corning rank among Best Public Squares?
The public squares were nominated "not just for their aesthetic value, but also for their historical significance and communal importance," according to the contest.
The USA TODAY panel highlighted Centerway Square's picturesque qualities, including the clock tower, as well as its utility as a space for public events.
"The town of Corning was revitalized in 1989, when two blocks of street were replaced with the pedestrian plaza known as Centerway Square," reads the contest description. "This brick-paved area features a 50-foot-tall clock tower, street lamps, cafe seating, and a covered stage for live events."
Centerway Square is no stranger to the spotlight. It has placed high in the 10Best Readers' Choice Awards rankings for the last several years. Centerway Square has also been featured on the Hallmark Channel's Christmas Cam livestream during the holiday season.
Centerway Square will host events throughout the year, including live music and theater performances.
"We are very proud of the destination that the Gaffer District has become," said Fabrizi. "It’s absolutely a place people love, whether you’ve lived here and worked here your whole life or you discover it by chance. So many people discovered Corning for the first time because they traveled to this area for the eclipse. Now these people are already planning a return visit."
More: Corning ace Peyton Sullivan lands with New Haven after rollercoaster recruiting process
What other cities were recognized?
The top vote-getter for Best Public Square was Campus Martius Park of Detroit.
Some other parks in the top-10 included Fountain Square in Cincinnati, Jackson Square in New Orleans, and Santa Fe Plaza in Santa Fe.
About the 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
The USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards highlight the best in travel, food and drink, and lifestyle. USA TODAY 10Best invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories.
10Best editors then vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for a period of four weeks.
This article originally appeared on The Leader: Corning's Centerway Square is among 10 best in USA TODAY awards
