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.
“We are grateful to be selected for a Community Placemaking Grant. Saratoga Plaza will play a pivotal role in connecting people to urban mobility options while also creating an inviting gathering spot for everyday meetups. We are excited to partner with Project for Public Spaces and Newport on the Levee to transform this small urban space into a great place for all walks of life.”— Will Weber, President & CEO of Southbank Partners
Saratoga Plaza in Newport, KY, is one of several community gathering spaces at Newport on the Levee, an entertainment-driven, mixed-use development situated along the Ohio River. The site sits at a key multimodal crossroads—adjacent to a bus stop, a bike share station, the scenic Riverwalk at Riverfront Commons, and the pedestrian-only Purple People Bridge that connects Newport, KY to downtown Cincinnati, OH—yet the plaza currently lacks the design, activation, and safety features needed to fully serve all users. Through a Community Placemaking Grant, Project for Public Spaces will work with regional economic development nonprofit Southbank Partners to transform the Plaza into a vibrant Destination Station by adding amenities and programming that help connect it to surrounding streets and transportation networks. These improvements will enhance safety, support community gathering, and energize downtown activity.
In February 2026, as part of Project for Public Spaces' Community Placemaking Grants: Streets as Places & Destinations Stations, Southank Parnters was selected as one of three organizations to receive $100,000 each in direct funding, as well as planning, implementation, and capacity building assistance from Project for Public Spaces.
Starting in February 2026, Project for Public Spaces’ Placemaking team will work with grantees to engage with their communities, co-create a vision for activation, develop designs, and support construction, and programmatic implementation for each place. Projects are expected to be completed by November 2026.
Learn more about Project for Public Spaces’ 2026 Community Placemaking Grants: Streets as Places & Destinations Stations.
Check back to see this space transform!
Project for Public Spaces’ Community Placemaking Grants enable US-based nonprofits and government agencies to address inequality of access to public places that serve community needs by working directly with local stakeholders to transform spaces or co-create new ones. We do this by providing direct funding, technical assistance, and capacity building facilitated by Project for Public Spaces. Learn more about how to become a Social Impact Partner today.
You can also support our work by making a donation. Every bit helps to bring public spaces to life!
