There seems to be some confusion between what a “park” is and what a “square” is. If the area that is being discussed is an open area where people can go and hang out without having to buy anything then I would say the area is a park. On the other hand if the area is being used to entice patrons into the area so the local retail establishments can get them into their shops then I would call that either a mall or commercial square.

News-Leader.com | Sarah Overstreet

Square’s nuisance factor growing

Some of us have begun to think of the “park” in Park Central Square as an attractive nuisance.

Adults and kids with nothing to do — or at least, think they can find nothing else to do — hang out there regularly. They monopolized the gazebo when there were still benches in it. They still inhabit it to a lesser degree, now just leaning against it. Once in a while, some of the Square visitors are publicly intoxicated. Kids hang out with their friends day after day, hour after hour. Some skateboard on the concrete ledges and bricks, others play in the fountain. Recently, Public Works had to shut off the fountains to repair damages to it.

Personally I see a lot of problems with the whole park/square problem. Firstly the shop owners in the area think they should get preference on better parking for their customers, using the handicap excuse is always good fodder. The same goes to the people saying the same things for handicap spaces for ease of access to the State building. There are handicap spaces just around the corner already and with all due respect those spaces appear to be more than adequate.
It’s pretty sad to think that for anyone going to the cities public square should have to buy something. The way I see it is that every citizen here has already purchased something through our taxes and the square should remain its open public area that it already is. Another thing to consider is that the area was once a parking area already, and was changed to a public square. From comments in the article the city removed the benches and turned off the power to the area, chasing people out, why are they complaing now that nobody comes to visit it?