Think about what would make Des Plaines hop

Seems to me that most successful outdoor urban spaces feature one or more good restaurants, perhaps with music, ample lighting for nighttime patrons and an absence of traffic and noise.

Alfresco dining in Arlington Heights has those features. Moretti's plaza in Edison Park has those features. The Entertainment Center in Rosemont has those features in spades. City officials in Des Plaines will do well to consider what makes those spaces inviting, financially prosperous and just plain fun to visit. A cultural center would flop like a dead fish in Des Plaines. Maybe four people would go skating on an ice rink.

Above all, Metropolitan Square needs to be visible with a capital V. Right now, the Des Plaines Theater, the hulking parking garage and several businesses create a wall between Metropolitan Square and the well-traveled Miner thoroughfare.

One big plus is the thriving and popular Shop and Save Grocery. There's a success to build upon.

'm no urban planner but to succeed the revamped Metropolitan Square needs to be more visible, popular with the majority of people and as inviting as possible. Nothing makes an outdoor restaurant more inviting and attractive than dozens of happy diners eating good food in good weather. Passersby see such a place and think, "Hey! What's happening here?"

Dan Brown

Des Plaines