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Houston Library Plaza: Building Knowledge, Building Community

By Project for Public Spaces on Nov 14, 2012 | 1 Comment

Library culture in the city of Houston is undergoing an exciting shift as the Houston Public Library reconsiders its public role. Instead of thinking of its programming as needing to remain within the building’s four walls, recent efforts are pulling the activity into outdoor spaces. Building upon the momentum of other successful downtown [...]

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Locals mill about Silanga Field, which will soon become the Silanga Community Centre / Photo: PPS

Creating Common Ground in a City Divided

By Project for Public Spaces on Nov 9, 2012 | 5 Comments

In Nairobi, Kenya, the contrast between rich and poor neighborhoods is beyond stark.  And even though half of the city’s population lives on a mere 1.5% of the total land area, in Nairobi, public space is scarce. Since the creation, by Colonial powers in 1948, of the master plan that led to the [...]

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A Revolution in Placemaking

By Project for Public Spaces on Jul 3, 2012 | 2 Comments

Since the Project for Public Spaces was founded in 1975,we have worked in thousands of communities around the world to help people shape their public spaces to create great Places, where locals feel a sense of ownership, and visitors don’t want to leave. Still, for as much fun as we’ve had, something feels different lately. [...]

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Peaches & Greens

The Cure for Planning Fatigue is Action

By Project for Public Spaces on May 30, 2012 | 3 Comments

Detroit has become a media darling in recent years, as the story of its rapid de-industrialization and population loss has given way to a new narrative: one of entrepreneurial arts groups, neighborhood farmers markets, and corporate investment downtown by the likes of Quicken Loans and Compuware, catalyzed in part by the new public square at [...]

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Finding a Context Sensitive Solution in Denver

By Project for Public Spaces on Apr 11, 2012 | Add Comment
Our new video illustrates how the FHWA's CSS approach works directly with local stakeholders to plan transportation projects that are responsive to the communities they serve.
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In Nairobi, Re-Framing Mundane Spaces as Exciting Places

By Cynthia Nikitin on Mar 12, 2012 | 5 Comments
Cynthia Nikitin reports back on lessons learned during the first placemaking training in Nairobi run through PPS's partnership with UN-Habitat.
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The Rose Kennedy Greenway borders Parcel 7, which can be seen to in the background on the right.

Boston’s Public Market To Be a Hub for Local Food

By Project for Public Spaces on Jan 19, 2011 | 1 Comment

PPS’ public markets team has just returned from Boston and is excited to announce that it has begun creating an implementation plan for the first floor of Parcel 7, a MassDOT-owned building that is slated to house a public market. Both local residents and vendors are energized by the decision to re-purpose Parcel 7 into [...]

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The Market in Pittsburgh's Market Square draws visitors from around the region to wander its colorful stalls each Thursday

Pittsburgh’s Market Square Opens This Week

By Megan MacIver on Oct 28, 2010 | 1 Comment

Earlier this week, a Grand Re-Opening Ceremony for Pittsburgh’s Market Square kicked off a new, exciting chapter of the city’s downtown history.  The ceremony, attended by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and other public officials, marked the culmination of years of public process and $5 million investment in the area; guided and initiated by PPS’ [...]

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Park features like this fountain at Discovery Green keep visitors of all ages coming back to Houston's once desolate downtown core.

PPS Park Projects Spur Downtown Development in Houston and Detroit

By Megan MacIver on Aug 16, 2010 | 1 Comment
A recent Washington Post article by JoAnne Greco of The City Traveller focuses on the power of parks to spur economic growth.
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Youth playing soccer in South Africa

Creating Safe Community Gathering Spaces in South Africa

By Craig Raphael on Jul 21, 2010 | Add Comment

One of the most important elements of any public space is safety. When spaces are physically unsafe or perceived to be so, they do not draw the people necessary to make them vibrant and successful. But by embracing community engagement in the planning process, public spaces can best accommodate the needs and concerns of their users, thereby [...]

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Where is PPS Working Today?

By Craig Raphael on Jul 16, 2010 | 2 Comments

Every year, PPS travels all over the world in our mission to help communities improve their public spaces. In the last few weeks alone, we have been in Norway, Abu Dhabi, Hawaii, Vancouver, Alabama, Italy and Texas, among other places.

Interested in connecting with a PPS staff member in your city or town? Here’s a [...]

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A panorama of the town.

In Northern Italy, Placemaking to Revitalize a Small Town

By Craig Raphael on Jul 13, 2010 | 2 Comments

Originally a Roman settlement dating back to 143 BC and later the site of famous battle during the Napoleonic Wars, Romano Canavese is a picturesque small town approximately 25 miles northeast of Torino (Turin), Italy. Many of the town’s historic buildings are being restored with their original paint colors, and the natural beauty of the [...]

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