The Public Spaces Listserve is an open forum for people of all backgrounds to discuss the pressing (and sometimes not-so-pressing) issues concerning public spaces. Below are some highlights from recent discussions.

On PLAY ENVIRONMENTS

500,000 kids are injured on playground equipment every year in North America - another 500,000 kids are hit by cars while they are going to or coming from playgrounds!

Obviously the playgrounds are in the wrong place. Actually the building of playgrounds (children's ghettos) is altogether the wrong approach to children's play (if that is what playgrounds and playground equipment is all about - but is it about creative play?!)

- Harry Pasternak

I have a lofty vision of kids being able to play in the streets without too much fear of getting hit by cars. When I was a child, we often played in the street, however this was also a small town in Ohio. In addition, I might have a bias because, as a skateboarder, I still "play in the street."

- Nicholas Edman

On PUBLIC SEATING AND BENCH DESIGN

Unfortunately, I've personally witnessed changes to bench architecture in efforts to prevent people from lying down. Anything from fold-up seats at bus stops to benches divided into sections by "armrests" conveniently placed so as to make lying down impossible...

In Philadelphia, where I live, these changes were coupled with (and even probably preceded) a "Sidewalk Ordinance" which basically declared all sitting on sidewalks illegal loitering, so that people unable to lie down on benches, etc., now cannot lie down on sidewalks either. While lying on sidewalks is hardly something I wish for anyone, I feel that legally and architecturally punishing those who are homeless is representative of (rather belligerently, in this case) the US's band-aid solutions to systemic problems. Quite the opposite of making our cities welcoming.

- Sarah Scheckter

Here in the UK we have the same armrest ruse being employed to deter 'inappropriate' use of public seating. We also have nasty little perches at bus stops for the same reason - and plenty of unbearably uncomfortable stone benches with no backs, no armrests, no nothing. And of course most canny street sleepers find much warmer and more comfortable places to sleep than on benches.

"All too often the reality over here is: you can have 'unsleepable' seating or nothing at all. With a choice like that, I'll take the seats every time..."

A bigger concern is the removal of ALL public seating in places where sleeping or drinking in public is seen as a problem. The best solution is surely a plentiful supply of seating in lots of different styles, so all sorts of different uses can be made of it without excluding anyone.

All too often the reality over here is: you can have 'unsleepable' seating or nothing at all. With a choice like that, I'll take the seats every time...

- Paul Holdsworth
livingstreets.org.uk

On THE IMPORTANCE OF SIDEWALKS

Let's not forget that sidewalks not to mention coffee shops can also work pretty well as socializing opportunities in North America, and already are in the public domain (no land acquisition needed). This is true both in denser mixed and multi-family communities and the kind John is describing. (Others have noted that Starbucks and their equivalents function as the living rooms of many neighbourhoods.)

In terms of public investment and community-building, improving the public realm of a neighborhood's "high street" to work better for such person-to-person activities can result in many dividends - including economic revitalization, and can also start a process to redress a host of other community deficiencies.

Visually and physically narrowing an overly wide street and reclaiming the space for other purposes (trees, parking, bike lanes, seating, kiosks, public art, etc.) can be a great step forward.

- Frank Ducote

I think all planning should be done for pedestrians. Our priorities are in the wrong place when we are totally focused on designing for vehicle convenience. It's in our laws, ordinances, design standards, college courses. Vehicles have more rights than pedestrians do. I've designed enough parking lots with no sidewalks and streets wide enough for snow plows and fire trucks to choke me.

"Everything should be designed to be accessible from the concept stage, not as an afterthought, as it usually is."

Accessibility is not about people in wheelchairs, it's about mothers pushing strollers, elderly people walking to the pharmacy, children on their way to buy milk, normal people lost in thought. Everything should be designed to be accessible from the concept stage, not as an afterthought, as it usually is.

When I suggest sidewalks or curb bumpouts to clients, they're dismissed as increasing the cost of the project if they aren't required by the municipality. Think about it. Try designing a project with pedestrian safety and convenience as the top priority.

As a society we're obsessed with our vehicles to the point of ruining the quality of our lives. Drivers are people, they can learn to slow down and practice being considerate of pedestrians (children), for once.

- Melanie Hesse, RLA

On FARMERS MARKETS FOR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES

Statistically, many folks that fall in the low-income category are people of color of many ethnicities. I believe it is more engaging when teaching about food is paired with what a population already knows about their own culinary heritage. This may mean searching in the community for individuals who still cook the cuisine of their cultural background and asking them to participate. Yes, it takes time but it is an investment in the community. Besides, it is a fun way to conduct community outreach.

- Mari Simbana
Program and Revenue Development
Santa Fe Farmers’ Market