The Placemaking Round-Up
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
The Biweekly Bazaar
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
Save the date! Registration opens on October 26, 2025.
Webinar Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025, 12-1pm ET
Session will take place over Zoom.
Join us for an insightful webinar exploring how holiday markets can transform your community by providing a significant revenue boost for existing public markets, vendors, and local businesses while capturing valuable holiday spending within your local economy. Discover strategies for activating public spaces during colder months while celebrating local heritage and traditions that bring neighbors together. Learn how cities are creating vibrant winter marketplaces that foster economic resilience and community connection during the coldest season of the year.
Mimi Fritz, President & CEO, Grand Rapids Downtown Market (Grand Rapids, MI). Mimi Fritz has served as the President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market since its inception, leading the organization with vision, resilience, and a deep commitment to community impact for over 12 years. Under her leadership, the Market has grown into a vibrant destination for culinary innovation, small business development, and community gathering. Since the Market’s launch in 2013, Fritz has guided the organization through pivotal moments, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the celebration of its 10-year anniversary. A standout achievement during her tenure is the rapid growth and success of the Christkindl Markt. Michigan’s only European-inspired outdoor holiday market, the Christkindl Markt has become a beloved holiday destination drawing tourists from across the Midwest and establishing itself as a cherished tradition for West Michigan families. Launched under Fritz’s direction with authenticity and intention, the event captures the charm and magic of traditional German Christmas markets. The Christkindl Markt has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors each winter, boosting the local economy and solidifying the Downtown Market’s role as a cultural anchor in Grand Rapids.
Olga Graf, Managing Director, Markthalle Neun (Berlin, Germany). Olga Graf has spent her life in the world of food. From growing up in her family’s grocery store to leading sustainability and transformation projects along the value chain, she brings a deep understanding of trade, craftsmanship, and community. Since 2025, she has been Managing Director of Markthalle Neun in Berlin – overseeing a market that has hosted vibrant Christmas and holiday markets for over a decade, guided by a clear compass, fresh ideas, and one principle: better together.
Laurel Perley, Senior Director of Marketing & Events, Center City District (Philadelphia, PA). Laurel is the Senior Director of Marketing and Events for the Center City District (CCD), the business improvement district for downtown Philadelphia. In her role, Laurel promotes living and working downtown, leading events throughout Philadelphia's office district and CCD-managed parks and public spaces. In 2024 alone, Laurel's team produced nearly 350 free events that enlivened Center City's Dilworth Park, Sister Cities Park and Cret Park. With over 25 years of experience, Laurel helped launch the award-winning Center City Restaurant Week promoting a thriving downtown restaurant scene and Center City Sips, an annual summertime happy hour staple for the bars and restaurants located within CCD’s boundary. Laurel holds a BA from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, and lives and enjoys all that Center City has to offer with her husband, two children and her rescue dog River.
Kelly Verel, Co Executive Director, Project for Public Spaces (New York, NY). Kelly believes that unlocking the potential of Public Spaces can foster social change. This commitment inspires her work as the Co-Executive Director at Project for Public Spaces, where she drives and executes our nonprofit’s vision as well as oversees the Market Cities Program, Events, and Finance and Operations. In almost two decades at Project for Public Spaces, Kelly has led the planning, design, and development of public markets and undertook pilot projects in Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Toronto to kickstart citywide market strategies. As someone who enjoys gathering professionals in the field, she has spearheaded many of our popular online trainings, including How to Create Successful Markets. Since 2009, she has planned and now directs our International Public Markets Conferences, which have taken place worldwide, including Toronto and Barcelona.
Historically, placemaking as a profession has only been accessible to a privileged few. To that end, we are offering a sliding scale of registration pricing so that this event can be accessible to individuals and organizations of varying budgets.
The suggested registration rate is $30 USD, however we are also offering registration at the rate of $15 USD and $45 USD. Please pay what you can, and consider contributing more to cover the cost of those who can afford less.
Please contact us at events@pps.org.
Project for Public Spaces is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings public spaces to life by planning and designing them with the people who use them every day. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, Project for Public Spaces has spent the past five decades bringing some of the most successful public places in the world to life. Today, we remain committed to putting community participation at the center of everything we do, from placemaking partnerships with corporations and foundations to our workshops, trainings, conferences, and more. Our interdisciplinary team has helped over 3,500 communities in 52 countries create inclusive places that change our society for the better. Together, we can build a world where every public space is community-powered.
Photo Credit: Nate Storring, Project for Public Spaces
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