The Placemaking Checklist

6 March 2008 - 6:00am

The Project for Public Spaces offers this checklist to help determine if your city is a "great" city.

"Community goals are a top priority in city planning:
- Citizens regularly participate in making their public spaces better and local leaders and planning professionals routinely seek the wisdom and practical experience of community residents.
- Residents feel they have responsibility and a sense of ownership for their public spaces."

"Public spaces are accessible and well-used
- There are public places within both neighborhoods and downtowns where people can gather informally and regularly.
- Parks feature attractions for people of different ages and are used at different times of day; they are more than simply recreation facilities.
- The waterfront allows people to actually reach the ocean, lake or river.
- Amenities (benches, transit waiting areas, etc) are comfortable, conveniently located and designed to support the intended use.
- Negative uses or users do not dominate the public spaces.
- Both children and seniors can easily and safely walk to where they want to go (e.g. children can walk to school, seniors can walk to movies, grocery stores)."

Source: Making Places, March 5, 2008
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Now, more than ever, Americans are clamoring to get out of their cars and have more transportation options than the car-centric approach first envisioned and deployed in the 1950s is providing.