Although crowdfunding initially developed to support artists and entrepreneurs, crowdfunding sites are funding a growing number of public space projects.
According to Brady Dale of Next City, since Kickstarter's unveiling in 2009, similar websites for crowdfunding have popped up that specifically focus on civic projects.
Civic technologist and Stanford University doctoral researcher Rodrigo Davies "published the first study of the use of crowdfunding for civic projects. One question he set out to answer was how crowdfunding could be a positive force in community development for communities at all income levels... His research found that 81 percent of civic projects initiated on Kickstarter reached their goals, making these projects more likely to succeed than projects that don’t serve some kind of public purpose. One in five crowdfunding projects across all platforms included in the study explicitly reference benefits for underserved communities."
Indeed, the most common civic project on such crowdfunding websites are open spaces and parks. Dale writes how former New York City Parks Commissioner and current senior vice president at the Trust for Public Land Adrian Benepe often saw, "large, multi-million-dollar projects sit unstarted for want of only thousands of dollars," which these crowdfunding methods can help remedy as either the first or last piece of the funding puzzle.
Benepe added that in his eyes, crowdfunding is a net positive, since "[r]ather than exacerbating inequality, private money enables a city to take public money and allocate it to neighborhoods that have no chance to do private fundraising."
FULL STORY: Crowdfunded Parks Are Coming and That Isn’t a Bad Thing

Planetizen’s Top Planning Books of 2023
The world is changing, and planning with it.

Chicago Red Line Extension Could Transform the South Side
The city’s transit agency is undertaking its biggest expansion ever to finally bring rail to the South Side.

Eugene Ends Parking Minimums
In a move that complies with a state law aimed at reducing transportation emissions, Eugene amended its parking rules to eliminate minimum requirements and set maximum parking lot sizes.

EPA Calls for Eliminating Lead Water Pipes in 10 Years
The mandate doesn’t include additional funding, prompting backlash from utility companies.

Baltimore Considers Public Restroom Project
The city is starting to develop a plan for adding more public restrooms downtown, where available bathrooms are scarce and historic buildings are being damaged by public urination.

Will New York’s Strict Short-Term Rental Rules Work?
Some owners are reluctant to put short-term rental units back on the long-term rental market, but the number of permitted units has dropped dramatically.
City of Kissimmee - Development Services
City of Kissimmee - Development Services
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Park City Municipal Corporation
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.