News and Thoughts from Project for Public Spaces
Public Squares Edition
Feature Story:
Launching a New Tradition of Great Public Squares
By Fred Kent, Kathy Madden and Phil Myrick
Pioneer Courthouse Square has forged a strong identity for downtown Portland.
With historical roots in cultures all over the world, squares are being rediscovered as a powerful means of transforming communities.
People today are crying out for lively gathering places where civic life flourishes and different cultures can mix, places that heal social isolation. Any community that wants to discover the rewards of public life can make a square its centerpiece. PPS shows why great squares are not just for tourists to admire -- they belong right in our backyards.
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Also in this Issue:
 Image © Rundell Associates
A new public square, Campus Martius, brings life back downtown.
By Jay Walljasper
Shining examples to inspire the growing movement to bring back town squares.
From Mexico to Italy to Iran, these remarkable squares can inspire us all.
These squares could be transformed from embarrassments to great community places.
Small details add up to great places.
Our new program to bring the power of Placemaking to university campuses starts at Harvard, Stanford, and Duke.
By Phil Myrick
Popular culture exerts a powerful influence on how we feel about the places we live.
By Jay Walljasper
Third Place Commons is the heart of Lake Forest Park, Washington.
By Anne Stadler
More Issues of Making Places:
Public markets are on the upswing today because people are naturally drawn to the agreeable mix of both social and commercial activity that any good market offers. Now, the next generation of markets is emerging as a viable alternative to conventional development projects like convention centers or big-box retail.
The stories in this newsletter chronicle the first wave of a revolution in how we approach transportation and public space. PPS is showing the way forward, helping communities realize a different vision of what transportation can be.
The secret of every thriving neighborhood's success is the small steps citizens take to enliven their local streets, parks, and other public spaces. PPS's new Great Cities Initiative applies this grassroots energy to the broader mission of improving entire cities and regions.
People everywhere are searching for ways local parks can better serve their neighborhoods. See how PPS's Placemaking approach can transform parks into important community gathering spaces.
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