City Commentaries

For over 30 years, PPS has observed how people use cities, and how well cities and public spaces support human activity.

Being in a good public space is comforting. Being in a great public space is absolutely invigorating, even spiritual. To see people comfortable, natural, and engaged is to see them at their best. They come out of themselves; they participate in community life; they learn the mores of their culture and community. Good spaces breed good activity. Bad spaces breed little to no positive activity and are often a spawning ground for negative activity.

Our intention with these city commentaries is to encourage discussion and share the experiences we've gained as seasoned observers of public environments all over the world. We encourage others to send us comments on these reviews, and add places on our Great Public Spaces (and don't forget about the Hall of Shame).

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What Makes New York a Great City

The Choice New York Faces

Nine Ways to Transform New York into a City of Great Places

Great Public Spaces of New York

The Big Apple Hall of Shame

New York's Public Space Opportunities

Think Big: How to Address Citywide Conditions

Discovering New York's Hidden Gems

Re-Imagining Downtown Brooklyn

Table of Contents:
Introduction

The Comfortable City

Critical Issues - Parks

Case Studies - Parks

Critical Issues - Buildings

Case Studies - Buildings

Critical Issues - Streets

Case Studies - Streets

Where is Paris Headed?

Reader Reactions

Overview
Place and Issue Case Studies:
Great Public Spaces
Better than Average
Worse than Average
Hall of Shame

Overview
Place and Issue Case Studies:
Great Public Spaces
Better than Average
Worse than Average
Hall of Shame

Support Great Places - Become a PPS Member

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