Denison students propose ideas for downtown Newark

NEWARK – Imagine a new downtown sports bar, a food truck festival and an outdoor night hockey game at the Courthouse Square ice arena.

Denison University students imagined those and many more downtown additions as part of Dave Przybyla's entrepreneurship workshop class project.

In conjunction with Newark Development Partners Community Improvement Corporation, the students were asked to propose ways to attract Denison students and employees to downtown Newark.

Six groups of students presented their ideas to Newark leaders on Thursday at The Midland Theatre. City officials will announce the winner 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to the class at Denison. The winning team gets 10 extra credit points.

"We want Denison to be an anchor institution in Newark, not just a city next door, but feel it is their town," said Andrew Shediac, a sophomore majoring in economics. "We want students to feel like it's their home."

Other ideas included an outside cafe/garden filling the "missing tooth," an empty lot on South Park Place; a playground on the Square; and The Arcade upgraded with brick walls, wood flooring and dining in the center walkway.

Many of the Denison students never visited Newark or knew the Courthouse Square existed.

"The idea was, 'What would it take to get Denison students into Newark?' " Przybyla said. "The silliest and simplest reason (they don't visit) is simply the distance. Not all students have cars."

Students do, however, find a way to reach the mall or restaurants in Heath, Przybyla said.

"Students don't really know about Newark," Przybyla said. "There's not a whole lot downtown that would interest them."

David Meurer, a Denison sophomore and Newark Catholic graduate from Granville, said he enjoyed showing other students around Newark.

"I think it's just a lack of knowledge of the area," Meurer said. "It's intriguing to me to see the (downtown) development and see where it can go.

"In two years, we might be hanging out on the Square. That might be the spot. Simple stuff might make Newark take off."

Fred Ernest, director of Newark Development Partners, said of the 28 students in the class, only two had ever been in downtown Newark, and one of them was Meurer.

"I thought the students did a great job," Ernest said. "I'm impressed with the quality of the presentations and the thought put into it."

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

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Twitter: @kmallett1958

Denison students' ideas

Following are some of the ideas from Denison University students to attract students or university employees to downtown Newark.

•Battle of the Bands on Friday nights.

•Use Crystal Ballroom for student nights.

•Denison Star singing competition as a fundraising event for downtown Newark projects.

•Movie series at The Midland, showing winner from movie poll on Midland's Facebook for $5 on Sundays

•Multiservice facility, flooded in winter for use as ice rink, staging youth hockey games and Newark Generals night game; used for roller skating or basketball the rest of the year.

•Workout facility for people living in downtown lofts.

•Playground on The Square.

•Outside cafe/garden for empty space on South Park Place.

•Food Truck Festival near Canal Market District, with food trucks from local areas, local music, and drinks from local wineries or breweries

•Sports bar with big-screen TVs

•Annual day of service for all Greek organizations, bringing 500 students to help out downtown.

•Monthly park cleanup with plaques showing who maintains each area.

•Taste of Town during the Big Red Weekend

•Winter Festival

•Flea market once a month

•Upgrade The Arcade with brick walls and wood floors, tables and chairs for dining in center area.

•Bring the Green Turtle Sports Bar and Grille here.