Project For Public Spaces

California

How Public Spaces Can Better Support Houseless Communities

Project for Public Spaces urges seven tangible actions for public space managers to support unhoused people during the coronavirus pandemic right now, and moving forward.

April 30, 2020 - Project For Public Spaces

City Kids

Project For Public Spaces Launches Initiative to Improve Marketplaces Worldwide

Project for Public Spaces' Market Cities Initiative seeks to understand and addresses challenges faced by the public marketplaces to improve market infrastructure and promote healthy food systems in local communities.

April 9, 2020 - Project For Public Spaces

Vancouver Chuck Wolfe

A Twitter Feed that Sings About Placemaking

"My twitter stream is alive with the sound of placemaking," writes Chuck Wolfe. While preparing for this week's Placemaking Week in Vancouver, he explains the importance of PPS-led programming and hopes for various panels, proceedings and events.

September 12, 2016 - The Huffington Post

Havana

In Pictures: Havana's Public Spaces

The recent thaw in U.S. relations with Cuba, as well as President Obama's visit last month, have spurred conversations about Havana's future. Its public spaces are worn, but they're busy and well-designed.

April 3, 2016 - Project For Public Spaces

Place de la Republique

The Difficult Task of Creating Topophilia

The Project for Public Spaces celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, spanning a seismic shift from modernist planning and urban decay of the 1970s to the urban resurgence and focus on smart growth of today. PPS's Ethan Kent reflects.

May 2, 2015 - Policy Innovations

'Heart of the Community' Program Awards Placemaking Grants

Southwest Airlines and the project for Public Spaces continue their partnership on the Heart of the Community program, awarding placemaking grants to six cities around the country.

April 25, 2015 - Project For Public Spaces

Sunset Plaza

Against Generic Placemaking

'Placemaking,' the process by which cities and developers supposedly create appealing public spaces, is in a crisis, writes critic James Russell. Too many "made" places are generic and lack true relevance to the cities that build them.

April 13, 2015 - James S. Russell

The Wørd: Placemaking Edition

What's new for placemaking advocacy in 2015? In short, being an effective communicator is in. Being self-concerned and oblivious is out.

January 6, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Berlin Playborhood

Berliner Kinder: Berlin and its 'Playborhoods'

Are you thinking about playborhoods, playsheds, and free-range kids? Berlin's Kolle 37 hits it out of the park. Literally.

November 14, 2014 - PlaceShakers

The Look and Feel of 'Inherently Urban'

Greek orators, current solution-based efforts, and 25 photographs remind us of the central role of human opportunity in the urban environment.

October 1, 2014 - The Huffington Post

The Important Role of Front Porches in Latino Communities

James Rojas explains the importance of front porches in Latino-American communities.

September 11, 2014 - Project for Public Spaces blog

Southwest Airlines Joins Project for Public Spaces to Activate Parks

Southwest Airlines joins Project for Public Spaces in an initiative to reactivate underused public spaces.

April 4, 2014 - CNN Money - Fortune

Google Maps Store

How Technology Is, and Isn't, Affecting Street Life

By analyzing four public spaces using William H. Whyte's groundbreaking techniques for studying street life, a team of researchers led by Keith Hampton reached some surprising conclusions about how technology is changing our social interactions.

January 20, 2014 - The New York Times

Bikeshare Stations Stimulate Street Life and Sociability

A study conducted by the Project for Public Spaces finds that New York's new CitiBike stations are a locus for more than just cycling. They provide wayfinding and street seating, serve as gathering places, and encourage random social interactions.

December 3, 2013 - PPS Placemaking Blog

To Create a Great 'Third Place', Get Out of the Way

For far too long, the shaping of public spaces has been left to architects and urban planners, who plan from the top down. The most successful projects involve people directly in deciding how their public spaces will look, feel, and operate.

April 4, 2013 - Shelterforce Magazine

Gilbert Doubles Down on Downtown Detroit With Ambitious Placemaking Plan

Rather than succumb to the negative news surrounding Detroit's dire financial situation, businessman and booster Dan Gilbert is doubling down on his extensive investment in the city with an ambitious effort to enliven downtown's public spaces.

March 29, 2013 - The Detroit News

Participation Makes for Successful Placemaking

In a compelling entry into the public dialog around placemaking, Project for Public Spaces argues that people, rather than merely places, create vibrancy in a community.

March 8, 2013 - Sustainable Cities Collective

Making Markets More Accessible to Low-Income Communities

The Project for Public Spaces (PPS) has released the results of a new study aimed at understanding how to "get more healthy food into...communities through farmers markets."

February 25, 2013 - PPS Placemaking Blog

Public Space, Interrupted

The Project for Public Spaces has compiled a "how-to" list for re-claiming your community's public spaces.

June 19, 2012 - Project For Public Spaces

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.