News from PPS

Ice rink tops list of amenities proposed by residents of Hell

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Damned local residents evaluate a damned place.

Using the PPS Place Game, stakeholders evaluated three of Hell's nine levels (additional funding could allow for full evaluation of all levels.) Even without a full data set, residents had many ideas for short and longer term improvements, including a skating rink (very popular), comfortable places to sit, better signage, water fountains, and information kiosks. Shade structures were frequently mentioned, especially to offer protection from Hell's frequent storms, when the sky rains hot lava for much of the day.

Places with extremes of temperature frequently find ways to overcome those issues with extensive programming.

Although many participants complained about the difficulty of outdoor activities in Hell, PPS showed slides of community events in all kinds of weather, hot and cold, and noted that places with extremes of temperature (such as Sweden and Mexico) frequently find ways to overcome those issues with extensive programming and management.

While Hell's punishing atmosphere was a consistent complaint, perhaps more revealing was the lack of information regarding exits, especially for newcomers. "A new arrival in Hell basically has no idea where he or she is going," noted one participant.

During a brief respite from brimstone flurries, workshop participants conducted the Place Game.

Residents were also enthusiastic about a PPS proposal to offer a training course in placemaking for Hell supervisors, who were unable to attend the workshop due to a scheduling conflict, and have few incentives to make improvements, in part due narrow job descriptions typical of Hell's administrative bureaucracy.