New Research on the Impact of Public Space Investments | Placemaking Weekly

Posted August 1, 2021 - 08:58

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.

New Research: A Qualitative Look at the Impact of Public Space Investment

An aerial view of Civic Plaza in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This week, the Bass Center on Transformative Placemaking published a new report that reveals new insight into the economic, social, and civic benefits of public spaces through qualitative research on three public spaces where Project for Public Spaces has worked in the past: Civic Plaza in Albuquerque, NM, Canalside in Buffalo, NY, and the Flint Farmers' Market in Flint, MI.

The big takeaway? While a placemaking process can be a vital catalyst in creating lively, economically vibrant public spaces, the role of place management and governance is just as important in the long-term social and civic success of public spaces. Read more.

More from the Blog

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

Social Alchemy: Jim Walker on Placemaking as Utopian Experiment
May 12, 2021 • by Jim Walker

Six Trends in Placemaking & Active Transportation from Walk/Bike/Places
May 6, 2021 • by Nate Storring

Events & Opportunities

August 9, 2021 • Grant: Love Your Block, Cities of Service

September 19, 2021 • Award: 2021 Farmers Market Celebration, American Farmland Trust & Farmers Market Coalition

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

Public Space News

NYC Board: More Dancing in the Streets. New York City's Nightlife Advisory Board has issued a range of recommendations in order to promote more affordable and accessible nightlife as well as more spontaneous community-building. The board's report addresses sound, treatment of nightlife performers, special training for security guards and other personnel around sexual assault, and more.

Aiming to create more nightlife opportunities beyond bars and clubs, the board recommended changes to the city's zoning laws—which currently limit where dancing may take place—as well as easing of restrictions on consumption of alcohol in parks and other public places. (PIX11)

Senate Addressing Crowded Parks. The U.S. Senate is now considering how to address overcrowding at national parks. A record-breaking 31 million Americans visited parks in June, leading to traffic jams and long lines at marquee destinations like Yellowstone. However, attendance at other, lesser-known parks has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. (Bloomberg)

Police Reform on the Ballot in Minneapolis. This November, Minneapolis residents will vote on whether to replace the city's current police department. A ballot initiative proposes to change the city charter, which currently prescribes a minimum number of police officers. It would fold policing into a newly formed Department of Public Safety that takes a more holistic approach, including professionals from other fields such as social work. (NPR)

Redlined Neighborhoods More Vulnerable to Heat. The recent heat wave in the Pacific Northwest highlighted how historical inequities still affect the health and well-being of low-income and marginalized communities. Due to lower levels of tree cover and urban design decisions that concentrate pavement and concrete, they can be nearly 5 degrees hotter than other nearby neighborhoods. Additionally, residents in these areas must often travel further to access basic necessities like grocery stores. (Planetizen)

Placemaking Playbook

As always, here is a roundup of 10 inspiring placemaking ideas from the week:

These communities engaging citizens to allocate relief funds (SoJo Exchange)
A new NYC monument that honors essential workers (Urbanize)
A call to invest in the parks we already have (StrongTowns)
This suggestion to abandon the idea of a "bad neighborhood" (StrongTowns)
This placemaking inspiration from the developing world (CityLab)
A tiny home neighborhood offering community and affordable housing (Planetizen)
The community land trusts combining development with local control (Planetizen)
These great waterfronts with pop-up restaurants (Social Life Project)
A new training model that builds connection between community members and police (NextCity)
This redevelopment of a historic Black district in Baton Rouge (NextCity)