my journey to warren’s walkable sidewalks

Lying at the northern edge of the great Allegheny National Forest in an easily overlooked corner of Pennsylvania sits a community that I believe to be quite well planned.  I first paid a casual visit to Warren, Pennsylvania in the fall of 2020.  On that occasion, I was simply looking for a brief weekend getaway.  It was a mildly cold and unassuming day in November but that was fine as my expectations weren’t high.  To be honest, as I traveled the nearly two-hour journey along U.S. Highway 6 to reach Warren, I had thought about turning back a few times.  I had such thoughts because I wasn’t sure what I’d find in a place like Warren; I’m glad I stayed the course. 

After arriving in Warren, I stocked up on some gas at the local Kwik Fill and found a place to park.  In my opinion, you can’t truly experience a place by driving through it even though a drive does lend one perspective.  I decided to get out and walk around.  The streets of downtown were mostly empty as it was getting toward Saturday evening and many businesses had already closed shop.  Despite lacking an abundance of activity, the brisk chill of the autumn breeze and last remaining rays of sunlight were enough of an invitation for me to venture around.  As I walked the streets of Warren’s downtown, I had the impression that this community has worked to develop differently from most contemporary cities. 

On that crisp November day, I recall my observations of how nearly each block throughout the downtown had a seamless curtain wall of buildings all greeting the sidewalk in traditional form.  Old and historic architecture interplayed with newer buildings in a manner more akin to large and well established cities rather than isolated, small towns.  In some places, generous sidewalks were complemented by adjacent public spaces that offered more opportunities for engagement, acknowledgement, or just a simple respite from one’s working day.  Even little details began to stand out as I continued my journey.  Historic relics remained among new buildings and even when I encountered the seldom surface parking lot, its edges were lined with inviting landscaping. 

Great Places Take Time –

This adventure feature examines Warren, Pennsylvania through the lens of the several visits I’ve paid to the town over the past couple of years.  Every time I visit Warren, I can’t help to observe the community through the perceptive of a practicing planner.  There always seems to be something unique or interesting about the community that stands out.  Though the average person might easily pass through Warren without noticing much, most people would probably agree that it is a generally nice community.  However, to the trained eye, what has happened in Warren represents generations of hard work, consistency, care, and gradual steps toward improvement.  Although this feature will not ignore the small steps taken to make a nice community, we’ll begin by examining some of the larger factors that were likely made possible by such sequential efforts.   

My Theories & Observations of the Major Strokes –

To curb urban sprawl by concentrating development

The City of Warren appears to be mostly intact.  That is to suggest that it suffers less from the economic disinvestment that comes with suburban sprawl.  Warren County is known for being an early adopter of county-wide zoning.  Under such a zoning scheme, it is generally the case that land uses are controlled by county regulations rather than those of local municipal units including townships and boroughs.  I’m not suggesting that the mere presence of county-wide zoning is a factor in limiting suburban sprawl but rather that the County’s mere ability to create and enforce such a regulatory scheme may speak to the views of its residents to preserve the integrity of both the urban and rural domains. 

To curb urban sprawl by nature of site alone

As a city, Warren lies within the hilly countryside of northern Appalachia.  The city is located at the northern boundary of the Allegheny National Forest which flanks its entire southern limits.  To the north, the only noticeable community in Pennsylvania is that of North Warren before reaching the state line with New York.  Much of the lands that surround the City of Warren may have had limited development over the years due to a lack of relatively flat and thus buildable lands.  Many Appalachian towns, even those located in areas without strong land use regulations, are developed in a linear and winding manner to accommodate their surrounding hills and river passages (Warren lies at the confluence of the Allegheny River and Conewango Creek).  In other words, the lack of sprawl around Warren could be the consequence of its challenging, albeit beautiful, site. 

To curb urban sprawl by merely lacking access

Warren, Pennsylvania is a tough place to reach – at least by our spoiled modern standards.  There is no major interstate highway leading to Warren.  Although local boosters may resent their lack of a major highway or interstate, this very circumstance may have played a role in concentrating urban investment and curbing sprawl.  The lack of mobility options getting into Warren turns distance into a real factor.  If you do business in Warren, then you may as well live there or else face a long commute.  Additionally, the lack of heavy duty roads may have lessened pressures from land owners and real estate investors to build strip malls, far flung subdivisions, and other developments stretched out along the roadside.    

To curb urban sprawl from within

Many developments in Warren are well oriented to the urban environment.  This pattern is somewhat unusual for small towns and even midsized cities.  Most of the developments I saw were either primarily oriented to pedestrians or at least had nice facilities for those on foot.  Seemingly careful attention to the configuration of properties and buildings within city blocks appears to have contributed to forming an urban sense of place.  For the most part, parking lots were designed to serve multiple establishments and were located to the interior of city blocks.  Such lots are typically accessed through alleyways or smaller access streets rather than large curb cuts in the sidewalk.  Many buildings either didn’t supply their own parking or made due with parking spaces provided off site.  These spatial arrangements create a nice urban environment; perhaps a place people want to be.

A balanced community

Beyond the factors or efforts that have successfully curbed urban disinvestment and sprawl, there are other aspects of Warren that give off the presence of a well planned community.  Most of the city’s neighborhoods have a mixture of land uses.  Varying types of housing lie within a short distance to commercial establishments and community facilities such as school, churches, and other institutions.  Large centers of employment are relatively balanced throughout Warren’s neighborhoods with no particular area appearing to be either too dominant or left out.  Parks, recreation facilities, and schools are generally distributed in a balanced manner across different neighborhoods.  Tying these facilities together, Warren’s walkable street grid creates the template within which property owners create neighborhoods and districts that have a unique sense of place. 

Tradeoffs between mobility & access

Although Warren may lack the heavy duty highway access of countless other cities, its relationship with U.S. Highway 6 is as beneficial as it is well configured.  U.S. Highway 6 provides mobility to Warren for travelers coming from distant points.  However, it is the lack of access that the highway provides within Warren itself that reinforces the community’s character and urban form.   U.S. Highway 6 largely bypasses Warren without interrupting its urban fabric to enable the creation of soleless strip malls and empty parking lots.  However, what is truly unique is that it bypasses Warren not only without interrupting the urban fabric but also not cutting the community off from its waterfront.  Many highways were built to either follow the path of least resistance or to clear blighted “slums” if not for both reasons – a practice that often meant placing highways along the rivers running through cities. 

The design and configuration of U.S. Highway 6 as it runs through Warren not only manages to preserve the city’s urban fabric, it does so while still providing convenient access to neighborhoods at four locations.  Ultimately, U.S. Highway 6 does not create or encourage the common “stroad” style of development both while it approaches Warren and traverses through it.  Put differently, the highway is adapted primarily for quick travel in and out of the city rather than for stop and go shopping centers before becoming a rural highway. 

What a waterfront

Warren’s crescent shaped waterfront park is as peaceful as it is easy to access.  One can stroll across the city’s ornate bridge to get there in under ten minutes from downtown.  However, what is truly impressive is how well the park’s adjacent land uses tie into its amenity.  Grandiose homes and hospital beds are blessed with unobstructed views of the park and Allegheny River.  In some cases, the adjacent homes also have views of the bridge and the downtown skyline imposed before a backdrop of forested hills.  More than simply a great site, the park offers opportunities for relaxation, learning, and physical activity throughout.  Balancing formal spaces such as monuments and fountains with casual places like the steps running down into the river, this park offers many things for many people.  The park perfectly complements a recreational riverfront comprising businesses such as breweries, outfitters, and rock climbing gyms. 

The Fine Touches –

Great sidewalks

Warren does a great job mastering the basics of urban form and design.  I hardly noticed any sidewalks in disrepair during my visits.  In some cases, extra precautions or features were added to the sidewalks to enhance the pedestrian experience.  Two specific examples include a guardrail to protect pedestrians from a steep ledge and the ornamental patterns in the sidewalks downtown.  However, there were many other fine touches added to the sidewalks such as interpretive signs, benches, trash cans, planters, and so forth.  What was typically absent on Warren’s sidewalks further contributed to their pleasantness and use – a lack of vehicular curb cuts. 

I consider the fine touches of a community to be those things that we may not consider as either necessities nor luxuries.  To some a nice brick pattern in the sidewalks of downtown may not be considered necessary but it is a far cry from an Italian plaza.  To me, details such as the decorative sidewalk patterns help to call attention to a particular area and perhaps symbolize the city’s commitment to its success or importance.  In other words, these are small gestures that hint toward the cultural, social, and commercial significance of the downtown.  However, such gestures need not be limited only to downtown, and such was not the case in Warren. 

In one way, the effort behind “Walkable Warren,” an initiative to enhance the city’s pedestrian environment and encourage walking or “walkability,” represents a small gesture that the City has made toward its neighborhoods.  Efforts to defend sidewalks by limiting curb cuts, making great use of angle parking on streets rather than parking lots, the use of screening and landscaping where sidewalks abut incompatible land uses, and the addition of basic amenities are signs that the City, and by extension, the community at large, wants to invest in its existing neighborhoods.  As I walked through one of Warren’s older neighborhoods, I was treated to great architectural sites, a pleasant walk, and lush vegetation.  I stopped at one of the city’s pocket parks and took many pictures throughout the duration of my visit.

An abundance of amenities

Warren is a treasure trove of urban amenities.  The vast majority of these amenities are not overblown displays of wealth or civic confidence but rather testaments to enduring commitments, volunteerism, and philanthropy.  Warren’s amenities made my pedestrian stroll interesting throughout.  A basic list of the amenities I observed is provided below:

• Gazebos;
• Fountains;
• Play equipment for kids;
• Play equipment for older people;
• Educational signage;
• Interpretive signage;
• Art installations;
• Flowers planters;
• Public gardens;
• Sidewalk trees;
• Benches;
• Monuments;
• Overlooks;
• Sidewalk patterns;
• Cigarette disposals;
• Small public spaces;
• Subtle safety features (sidewalk railings);
• Trash receptacles;
• Pedestrian poles;
• Banners;
• Ornamental street lighting;
• Library nooks;
• Outdoor tables;
• Streetscaping;
• Sports fields;
• Nature trails;
• Vegetated street medians;
• Pavilions;
• Signs to education the public on the ownership and maintenance of facilities;
• Signs to encourage good behavior;
• Diversity of large parks; and
• Murals.

With only a few exceptions, none of the amenities listed above were particularly grand or expensive in their appearance.  However, none looked cheap either.  What was particularly noticeable was the City’s willingness to display its name and give proper credit to individuals on the more significant amenities.  Warren will not apologize for providing you with great public spaces!  In my opinion, when a City is proud to showcase its great services, its residents will likely be proud of the work done by their City – they are more likely to recognize that they are getting something for their tax dollars. 

Downtown is for people

Downtown Warren is designed for people.  Its abundance of street amenities, consistent storefronts, beautiful architecture, and careful consideration to the configuration of buildings all reinforce downtown as a pedestrian space.  Within the district, about eight block faces form complete “curtain walls.”  These are blocks in which either none of the sidewalk oriented buildings are missing, or if there are setbacks or missing buildings, such occurrences are intentional.  Such an environment made the window shopping more enjoyable especially considering the pedestrian amenities and major strokes described previously.  My compliments for Warren’s Downtown do not stem from a lack of exposure to pedestrian-oriented environments as I previously lived in Philadelphia without a car for five years, nor do they arise from a lack of experience with thriving commercial districts. Instead, I’m merely impressed with how well the community outperforms my expectations of small towns. 

Introducing the New to Revive the Old –

One of the more subtle, albeit impressive, contributions to the urban environment in Warren, Pennsylvania is the careful attention paid to the design of upgrades and expansions on existing historic buildings.  During my visit, I noticed that the expansion on the County Courthouse preserved the original grand front entrance and lawn.  Meanwhile, a few blocks away, the addition of a staircase or elevator shaft on a theater matched its original architectural.  These are the kinds of subtle efforts that are rarely adorned with praise – and perhaps even criticism – but add up over time.  Similar efforts are echoed through downtown as newer office buildings complement the design of historic ones.  Unbeknownst to me at the time of my visit, the main bridge connecting Downtown Warren to its riverfront park is not actually an old, historic structure.  Instead, it is a new one designed to appear classical.  Once again, I’m impressed.  

Signs of Greater Success –

The gradual and subtle combination of continual and sequential efforts made in Warren to reinforce a complete urban environment, healthy downtown, and walkable community appear to be showing some signs of success.  During my latest visit, I noticed at least one business with a sign installation setup to engage only pedestrians on a neighborhood sidewalk rather than cars driving down the street.  One building window encouraged the idea of “downtown living” and another showcased a decal of Warren’s skyline with great pride.  Even though most businesses were closed, regular people and the occasional family with kids still enjoyed bumming around the streets of downtown even on a cold day.  Just about everything from regular plaques to dedication bricks on the ground showcased the success of philanthropic efforts that have improved parts of the community.  To me, all of these observations point to subtle hints at greater success.  

My Experience –

I enjoyed my time in Warren

One of the simplest measures of a place is whether you enjoyed your time there.  I have always enjoyed my visits to Warren, Pennsylvania.  A few years ago, I drove more than an hour to take my visiting parents there for a day trip.  We simply spent our time enjoying the city’s public spaces.  I believe that alone says something.  Perhaps what I enjoy most about Warren is its peacefulness.  I attribute this peacefulness to the lack of arterial roadways converging in the center of town.  Interestingly, although the town is quiet, it is not devoid of life and activity.   

I learned new things

It was hard not to learn new things while walking around Warren.  The community is flush with interpretive signs, monuments, dedications, and other educational features.  None of these items come across as preachy or overdone.  Instead, they present the image of a community that takes pride in itself, its heritage, and its success.  I would suspect that these features foster a sense of pride in the local community. 

It took me back in time

The well preserved architecture and monuments of historical events and figures made me feel like I was walking through time.  Well preserved buildings and historic structures provided the foundation for my journey back in time, but the pleasantness of the pedestrian environment completed the picture.  Great buildings and landmarks were made to be seen on foot.  From my experience in Warren, it is not merely enough to preserve old buildings, a community should also preserve the environment in which such buildings are placed.  It appears to be the case that there is a relationship between a pleasant pedestrian environment and historic preservation, and I would suggest that Warren has struck this balance very well.  On a final note, the lack of surface parking lots, or at least the wise placement of such lots, enabled the cultivation of a visually engaging experience around every corner. 

I’d like to come again

I am cheering for communities that take a similar approach as Warren to their development.  Hopefully, there are many others.  To me, only public places can qualify as real spaces.  In a world where many exclusively look to theme parks, shopping malls, lifestyle centers, resorts, and their cell phones as their supplement for public space, the future of urban environments at all scales remains uncertain.  The former, I argue, are superficial landscapes of exclusion, and the latter, I suggest, form the canvas of our human medium.  Hopefully our real urban environments will become the great places that unite us once again.  Meanwhile, I may visit Warren once more.