5th Street - Dayton, OH
DESIGNING A SAFER, MORE VIBRANT PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION BETWEEN DAYTON’S CULTURAL AND HOSPITALITY DESTINATIONS
Yard & Co. led the 5th Street Experience Study for the Montgomery County Convention Facilities Authority and Downtown Dayton Partnership to improve the pedestrian and visitor experience along East 5th Street, linking the Dayton Convention Center, Levitt Pavilion, and the Oregon District. Physical barriers, wide intersections, fragmented identity, and inconsistent maintenance reduced safety, walkability, and visibility.
Yard delivered a fast, collaborative process through field observation and engagement, including a walking audit, public pop-ups, and a two-day charrette. The study produced a clear vision, guiding values, and phased interventions tailored to corridor segments.
The final plan outlines public-realm and placemaking improvements, gateway concepts, First 16 Feet activation, and an implementation framework clarifying partner roles for long-term stewardship.
Services
Planning | Activation | Operation
Timeframe
2025
Client
Dayton Convention Center
Location
Dayton, Ohio
PROBLEM
A key downtown corridor lacked safe, intuitive, and engaging pedestrian connections between major destinations, limiting visitor movement, neighborhood identity, and the economic impact of Dayton’s convention and entertainment assets.
SOLUTION
Develop a corridor-scale experience study combining walking audits, public engagement, and design testing to define a shared vision and phased interventions that improve walkability, safety, identity, and stewardship.
ACTION
Led audits and charrettes to produce a final design framework with site-specific concepts, phased improvements, budgets, and operational roles guiding near-term activation and long-term corridor transformation.
