pmyrick@pps.org
Philip Myrick is a Senior Vice President of Project for Public Spaces, a certified planner whose expertise encompasses public space planning, downtown revitalization, transportation and land use planning, livable street design, and facilitation. Phil joined PPS in 1995 and has led many of PPS’ major projects and programs, playing a major role in helping the organization develop its unique contribution to the field of Placemaking and more livable communities.
Phil has worked with communities around the world helping them achieve better quality of life offering choices of transportation, a better business climate, and vibrant downtowns achieved through Placemaking. For example, Houston’s downtown has had a recent revival in new residential development around two of Phil’s projects: Discovery Green park, and Market Square.
Phil also works with planners and designers to develop comprehensive and detailed visions for creating great parks, squares, main streets, corridors, and mixed use communities. His recent efforts include leading a multi-disciplinary team to create a detailed plan for the Marina District of Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, a new community for 80,000 people. Phil is a national leader in working with local communities to achieve dynamic downtowns through the creation of public destinations. Recently opened public parks and squares in Pittsburgh (Market Square), Mississauga (Ontario) and Houston have together resulted in revitalized downtown districts with millions of new visitors per year, and billions of dollars in immediate economic impacts.
Phil’s work with campuses and universities brings his experience to bear on creating distinct experiences that catalyze social interaction and enhance learning. His work with Harvard University has helped create new spaces on the Cambridge campus and envision a Placemaking-based master plan for Harvard’s new Allston campus (an expansion plan that is currently on hold).
Phil is also a leader in helping cities develop comprehensive strategies, policies and procedures that help them achieve livability, economic competitiveness, and sustainability. His work with city leaders, staff, and citizens in cities like Mississauga (Ontario), Tempe (AZ) has reoriented daily city functions around bigger objectives, like creating places in downtowns that are more attractive to residents and visitors.
Education
Hunter College, Master of Urban Planning, 1995.
Grinnell College, Bachelor of Arts, 1984.
Training and Instruction
- New Hampshire DOT CSS Training program (2005 – present)
- New York State DOT CSS Training program
- Faculty Member, Urban Planning, International Honors Program, a traveling college course on planning issues in developing countries: Mumbai, India; Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa; and Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba, Brazil (Winter/Spring semester 2001)
- Faculty Member, Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute
- Guest Instructor, Vassar College, Department of Urban Affairs (1999)
- Adjunct Professor, New York University, Robert Wagner School of Public Service, CAPSTONE graduate seminar (1997)
Major Publications
Public Parks, Private Partners. New York, Project for Public Spaces, 2000 (135 pgs. Illustrated, ISBN 0-9706324-3-6).
Professional Affiliations
National Highway Institute (NHI) Certified Instructor
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
American Planning Association
Awards
American Planning Association (APA), Robert C. Weinberg student award for outstanding achievement
Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS), Honorary Fellow
James Felt Scholarship, Hunter College
Steiner Prize, Grinnell College
Foreign Languages
Italian
Portuguese
German