Comments on: What Makes a Great Public Destination? Is it Possible to Build One Where You Live?

By: Kym LaFontaine

Kym LaFontaine — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:22:00 +0000

I came accross this website on pintrest- at just the point in time that I needed it thank You. I have just recently been made chairperson of a failing waterfront committee.- for several reasons this has failed many times over the years. I love the way of placemaking thinking and as for the comment regarding more info ON HOW IT IS DONE? what we have to look at in the proccess on why it has failed in the past… council saying no, bcause what happens when it is built and they have to PAY for upkeep. when we are designing the space as a community we also have to give them reasonable answers. how about a outdoor rink. oh we place it where the graders { already covered by the town} clean.. parking solved. they do not want town workers held up cleaning the rink. if it would cost them $3.000 in man hrs how about their portion is to cover major snow removal and a $1.000 is put aside for voulnteers. the skate or hockey team agrees to keep the rink clear and at the end of the season they are given that money to their organization. WIN-WIN donation from community=donation from town. it is all in the way we think and this can be used in several ways within the park. Thank you PPS. for giving me the hands on info I need to activate the community in design as well as ways to implement it and Partner with council…fingers crossed -we will not fail this time around.

By: Project for Public Spaces | Best of the Blog: Top 12 PPS Posts of 2012

Project for Public Spaces | Best of the Blog: Top 12 PPS Posts of 2012 — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:01:36 +0000

[...] What Makes a Great Public Destination? Is it Possible to Build One Where You Live? [...]

By: After the weekend I thought we might provide some interesting links … « Golden Streets 2012

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 20:42:09 +0000

[...] And then this morning I found these articles from People for Public Spaces. [...]

By: [Review] Triumph of the City | David Sasaki

[Review] Triumph of the City | David Sasaki — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:32:17 +0000

[...] with clear incentives and paths toward upward mobility. The Project for Public Spaces has a handy list and a great blog that profiles successful developments and interventions. It’s not rocket [...]

By: ppsnyc

ppsnyc — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:27:00 +0000

“They understand that half of the fun of Placemaking is getting to know
their neighbors through discussion, debate, and collaboration”

Does that sound like the people you’re talking about? If not, we’re using the term differently.

The term “zealous nut” is a reclamation of the way that people who are passionate about their communities are often labeled. They are the people who go to planning meetings to STOP the projects that you’re talking about from happening, and fight tirelessly against top-down “solutions” being imposed on the places that they love.

By: Shaun Smakal

Shaun Smakal — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:20:00 +0000

I’d argue, in my experience at least, ‘zealous nuts’ have torn down far more projects and potential than they’ve ever created.

By: Nidhi Gulati

Nidhi Gulati — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Great Article, especially the point about ‘Alumni Outreach’; conveniently many cities across America have colleges/universities and almost all of us have great love for our schools. This technique opens doors to stay in touch with places that we leave behind when we move to the next town (for any reason).
Looking forward to “Please just a Nice Place to Sit” Mr. Kent!

By: Fredkent

Fredkent — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:07:00 +0000

I like the idea of more thorough articles where we get into depth on various topics. We certainly have the material. I want us to do one on, “Please just a Nice Place to Sit”

By: Wadley Plan

Wadley Plan — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 06:17:00 +0000

This is a blog not a text book.

By: Mark_Spitzer

Mark_Spitzer — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:54:00 +0000

This is an attractive idea but it needs to be more thoroughly explained. For example, ten very ‘successful’ public places could be illustrated, and with each, the way in which the ten keys work to produce this success. The article could answer the ‘big six’: Why the place exists, Who benefits, What sorts of things exist or happen there, Where the place fits into its city, When the place developed in its city’s history, and How the resources were brought together to make it happen and keep it going. These touchstones would reveal the commonalities of great places – as well as some of their differences.

For instance, the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, Piazza San Marco in Venice, Parc Guell in Barcelona, and Times Square in NYC are all great places in their own ways, but very different. It would be helpful to see how the ten indicators mentioned above were reflected in these four well-known or other successful public spaces. They seem casual for real analyses; and I would suggest that the ‘big six’ might cover the territory more effectively.