Sugar Hill's Third Places

The Promenade and the Dawn P Gober Memorial Plaza are two perfect examples of local Third Places in downtown Sugar Hill.

Social Isolation. 

What is it?  According to dictionary.com, social isolation is a state or process in which persons, groups, or cultures lose or do not have communication or cooperation with one another.  Social isolation is the lack of social contacts and having few people to interact with regularly. 

The number of Americans working remotely has increased 173% in the last 14 years. Fueled by technological advancements and the Covid-19 pandemic, fewer of us are required to leave the comfort of our homes for our employment.  Groceries can be ordered online and conveniently placed in our cars without ever requiring us to interact with another person, and other necessities which previously required venturing into the community can now be delivered to our doorsteps overnight. 

Convenient?  Absolutely. 

Healthy?  Not according to an article recently published in Nature Neuroscience which reported that social interaction is a basic human need, just like food and water. 

So how do we combat social isolation when our world so effectively eliminates our chances for personal interaction?  You can start by seeking out a local Third Place.

Recapping Third Places. 

If you haven’t had a chance to read the first article in this series, you may not have heard of a Third Place.  A Third Place is essentially a gathering place designed to build community.  A place where you can just show up, hang out with friends, bump into neighbors, have a cup of coffee or an ice cream, and engage in a conversation with someone you’ve known for years, or someone you’ve just met because they happened to share your table or park bench. 

The Promenade and the Dawn P Gober Memorial Plaza are two perfect examples of local Third Places in downtown Sugar Hill.  With the warmer months approaching, both outdoor spaces offer opportunities for social interaction, connecting people of all ages.

The Promenade. 

Officially located at 5019 West Broad Street, The Promenade is home to numerous local eateries as well as an ice cream shop and brewery.  It is essentially the outdoor area that surrounds the E Center and The Eagle Theatre.

Whether you are in the mood to dine-in or stake your place at one of the comfortable outdoor seating areas with takeout, there is sure to be a meal, snack, or libation to satisfy your craving.  

Social activities are abundant at the Promenade as well.  Indio Brewing hosts a vast variety of free events for the community including salsa and line dancing classes, karaoke, trivia, and open mic nights.  Check out their schedule at Events | Indio Brewing Co. | Sugar Hill. 

Live music is scheduled on The Promenade almost every Friday 5:30 - 7:30 pm between Scoops and Central City Tavern from May - September. Music is not scheduled in this location on Splash Night Fridays or if there is a concert scheduled in The Bowl, so be sure to visit www.cityofsugarhill.com for a full schedule.

Dawn P Gober Memorial Plaza. 

The Dawn P Gober Memorial Plaza is located behind city hall at 5039 West Broad Street.  Tables and umbrellas are available, and visitors are also welcome to spread out their picnic blankets on the turf to enjoy this family friendly Third Place. 

The plaza adjoins the Sugar Hill Splash Park where the youngest of Sugar Hill’s visitors can enjoy fun in the sun.  Splash Park – City of Sugar Hill

Splash Night is a free family event which combines the fun of the splash park with live music, food trucks, sweet treats, inflatables, and family friendly movies in The Bowl at sundown. Splash Night is hosted on the plaza by the city of Sugar Hill on the last Friday of every month from May through September. 

Third Places give us with the opportunity to shake off the isolation blues by providing us with opportunities to relax outside of our homes.  The Promenade and Dawn P. Gober Memorial Plaza in Sugar Hill offer a tremendous number of social opportunities for people of all ages; simply venture out of your home and away from your office to Downtown Sugar Hill and you are sure to find your favorite Third Place!