Emojis are helping turn Geelong’s beleaguered Lt Malop Street Mall into a “Can Do Zone”, City Hall has announced.
The smiley-face images are part of an arsenal including “innovative posters, rubbish bin wraps, postcards and social media” to encourage “more-publicly-acceptable behaviour” in the mall.
The job of the emojis, commonly attached to mobile-phone and email messages, was to “deliver a positive message to the youthful users of the mall”, City Hall said.
The Can Do Zone is part of council’s #SoYouKnowGeelong campaign, which Mayor Darryn Lyons officially launched last Friday.
“Our mall has taken many hits over the years and we’re determined to improve the way the community uses and enjoys this space,” Cr Lyons said.
“The mall is now a Can Do Zone; a place where people can come together and can show respect, where they can smile and can say hello.
“The #SoYouKnowGeelong initiative is focused on engaging young people, other mall users and local traders to promote socially appropriate behaviour for the shared use of the space.
“By directly asking people through activities like the Post-It notes on the wall, street surfer bus and trader forums, we found out what behaviours people appreciate most.
City of Greater Geelong and State Government have created the Can Do Zone, in which users are expected to engage in “positive behaviour”.
In the past few months, council has worked with mall users and traders to develop the messages and behaviours people wanted to see in the mall.
These messages and behaviours are now being encouraged through the use of innovative posters, rubbish bin wraps, postcards and social media.
Cr Lyons said the mall makeover was an ongoing project of numerous activities, recently including installation of synthetic turf and fountains.
Road closures, tree lighting and play options were under consideration, he said.
“Council is proud to be bringing more activities to the mall, encouraging more people to use the space and keeping it safe and enjoyable for all the community.
“The key is to have more people in the city, more of the time. People attract people.”
