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Libraries as Social Infrastructure | Placemaking Weekly

Posted November 21, 2021 - 07:47

This newsletter from the Project for Public Spaces connects people who share a passion for public spaces to ideas and issues, news, quotes, places, and events from the placemaking movement.

Fostering Community Connections with CloroxPro
An illustration of the forthcoming mobile library environment for the Fulton County Library System.
Public libraries are a crucial cornerstone of our social infrastructure. They already do so much for their communities including providing internet access, work training opportunities, events, and of course books and other media. And yet, there is still so much unlocked potential.

Head to our blog to see how we worked with CloroxPro to take the Fulton County Library System (FCLS) in Atlanta, Georgia outdoors. Hopefully this provides inspiration for how public space designers and managers can think creatively about the libraries of the future. Read more.
 

More from the Blog


Why We Need Market Cities
May 12, 2021 • by Kelly Verel & Kurt Wheeler

Getting Kids Outside for Better Health with the Makers of Claritin®
October 8, 2021 • by Priscilla Posada

Flyover Park: Empowering the Next Generation of City Builders in Calgary
June 25, 2021 • by Ximena González
 

Events & Opportunities
Co-present the 11th International Public Markets Conference in your community. The Request for Letters of Interest for conference is open until December 17th.

Now through November 30, 2021 • Call for Session Proposals: CNU30.Oklahoma City, Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU)

Now through December 1, 2021 • Call for Projects: Bringing a Sacred Place to Your Community, Nature Sacred
 

Have an event or opportunity you would like to share? Email us at [email protected].
 

Public Space News
Outdoor Dining in NYC. New Yorkers have quickly embraced outdoor dining but tensions have arisen from local neighbors who say the noise levels are too high and restaurant owners who say they want to work on these issues hand-in-hand. Another test for pop-up sidewalk establishments is whether people will still come out in inclement weather now that propane heaters can no longer be used (electric ones are still allowed, but they aren't as powerful). (NY Times)

Reducing Violence through Place. Rising crime rates in the United States have garnered a lot of attention in the news. But, few have offered solutions that address the fact that murder rates, for instance, have mostly increased in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The Bass Center on Transformative Placemaking offers a summary of how place-based factors influence crime and suggests holistic, non-carceral alternatives. (Brookings) 

The Benefits of Living Streets. During Hurricane Ida in NYC, the streets in front of an affordable housing complex stayed dry due to its "living street" design. The area around the building has permeable pavement and all apartments are located at the 2nd floor or higher to prevent flood damage to residents. These are all principles that could inspire a new way of thinking when it comes to new developments. (Fast Company) 
 

Placemaking Playbook
As always, here's a roundup of placemaking projects and ideas that inspired us this week:
    1. Activists seek to transform vacant jails and prisons into community spaces (CityLab)

    2. The life of a commuter in a car-free city (Wall Street Journal)

    3. People still want parks even when their neighborhoods are deserted (At a Crossroads)

    4. Investing in parks and other public spaces for greater equity (Governing)

    5. Public restrooms as a social justice issue (CityLab)

Copyright © 2021 Project for Public Spaces, All rights reserved.

 

 

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