Armstrong Great Lawn in Cranberry Township, Butler County is a vibrant public space that originally served as the Municipal Center parking lot. Township leaders are credited with foreseeing potential for it to become a municipal asset and community focal point. Through a visioning and design process that engaged businesses and residents, connectivity and passive recreation emerged as primary themes for the renovation. 

Today, the site is a welcoming outdoor gathering space for people of all ages and abilities. Prominent features include pedestrian pathways, a story walk, fountains, shaded picnic tables/lounge chairs/memorial benches, a reading garden, and improved connectivity to nearby developments. An historic one-room schoolhouse was moved to the site to celebrate local history and culture. A variety of community events, ranging from the Town Square Market to the BBQ Bash and Great Pumpkin Festival, are held on the “Lawn.” These events, which attract residents and visitors from across the region, help to stimulate the local economy. 

Armstrong Great Lawn demonstrates the rewarding results of a planning process that engaged the community to the extent that some residents contributed financially to bring the project to fruition. Partnerships also played, and continue to play, a key role in the project’s success. Located in the heart of the Township, the “Lawn” has become a special place for social interaction, passive recreation, and memorable experiences.