Presentation from Park Pride's 2015 Parks and Greenspace Conference. The presenter is Cynthia Nikitin. With the importance of parks growing in the public's consciousness, now is the time to question what distinguishes great parks. Project for Public Spaces has identified nine strategies that help parks achieve their full potential to become active, multi-use, accessible, inclusive, safe public spaces that enhance neighborhoods and catalyze local economic development, highlight community authenticity and support multiple users.

1. Parks as Multi-Use Destinations and Catalysts for Community
Revitalization by Cynthia Nikitin, Senior VP Project for Public Spaces

3. 43 countries, 6 continents,
50 US states, 7 Canadian provinces,
110 major cities, 3,000 communities

4. 37k @PPS_Placemaking followers
44k facebook likes
1m www.pps.org visitors per year
37K newsletter subscribers

5. “What attracts people most it would appear, is other
people.”

6. “If you want to seed a place with activity, put out food.”

7. “We are creating a place, not just a design.””

8. “The community is the expert.”

9. “You can’t do it alone. ”

10. Placemaking is a movement that reimagines public spaces as
the heart of every community. Rooted in community-based
participation, Placemaking involves the planning, design,
management and programming of public spaces and
capitalizes on a community’s assets and potential to create
vibrant destinations—such as neighborhood gardens,
community markets, and downtown squares. For the past 40
years, Placemaking has sparked social, economic, and
environmental benefits to communities around the world.
WHAT IS PLACEMAKING?

11. “We have to turn
everything upside down
to get it right side up.
To get from adequate
to extraordinary.”

14. Qualities of Great Urban Parks
Traffic, Transit & the Pedestrian
The Edge Uses
Attractions & Destinations
Seasonal Strategy
Identity & Image
Flexibly Designed
Programming
Amenities
Triangulate
Place Management:
Central to the Solution
Diverse Funding Sources
Reach Out Like an Octopus
Lighter Quicker Cheaper

15. Traffic, Transit & the Pedestrian
• Connected to adjacent
areas
• Range of transportation
options
• Vehicles do not dominate

18. Sign Locations/
Information Nodes

19. The Edges
• Active edge uses
• Gateways and entrances
• Focal points

20. The Inner Park & the Outer Park

21. PITTSBURGH: Market Square

22. Attractions & Destinations
• Choices of things to do
• Triangulation opportunities
• Clustered activity around
destinations
• Focal Points

24. Sponsored benches in Zurich
Temporary sculpture
Temporary photography exhibit

25. Outdoor piano and seating area with WiFi connection
Temporary stage for musical performances
Open air movie night series in the park

26. Seasonal Strategies
• Flower Show
• Fashion Show
• Xmas Market
• Antique Show
• Play Equipment
• Cultural Festivals

27. Develop a program of innovative and interesting events around
different ages, cultures and seasons that extends throughout the year
An outdoor holiday market
Temporary farmers market

28. Winter Wonderland display around fountain
Temporary ice skating rink around fountain
Holiday market around fountain
Lighting the trees with ornaments

29. Identity & Image
• Showcase local, authentic assets
• District signage
• Historic highlights

30. Wayfinding Signage Systems

31. Informational sign with events brochures Signage promoting events

32. Flexible Design
• Overlapping and
changing uses
• Form supports function
• All day activation
• Place should evolve over
time
• Experiment with low cost
improvements

34. Programmed Uses
and Activities
• Recreation/Exercise
• Play
• Games
• Performance
• Public Art
• Environment/Educational
• Community events

36. Exercise

38. Play!

40. Performances

42. Public Art

46. Environment and Education

48. Community Events

49. Community Events

51. Amenities
• Attracts cross-section of users
• Source of local/regional civic pride
• Comfortable places to sit
• Food and markets

52. Amenities:
Prioritize

53. Upgrade amenities throughout the Parks
Temporary café kiosks with movable seating, tables and shading structures

54. Examples of consistent design of amenities such as chairs, tables, umbrellas, kiosks and market tents

55. Temporary kiosks at
entrance
Temporary cafe kiosk with shaded
seating in garden setting

56. Triangulate!

57. Providence: Burnside Park: Rendering

58. Providence: Burnside Park: The Imagination Center

59. Providence: Burnside Park: Family Reading Room

60. Place Management
• Management through:
– Security/Maintenance
– Programming Events
– Managing Destinations
– Providing Amenities

61. Develop a plan for a management entity to handle the planning and
management of all events, coordinate management of operations and
oversee economic activities

64. Diverse Funding Base
Security --
City Funding
23%
Facility -
Parks
Department
6%
Event
Rentals
18%Event
Sponsorships
12%
Tenant
Leases
24%
In Kind
Donations
17%

65. Reach out like an Octopus
Reach out like
an Octopus
Connect to other destinations
and to the downtown
Link downtown activities,
products, and services to the
Trail
• Add on to and
enhance the place by
reaching out into the
neighborhoods
• Connect to other
destinations and to
the downtown
• Become a district

66. The Power of Ten
67

67. POWER OF 10: PLACE
1. Read
the paper
2.
Window
shop
3. Learn about
upcoming events
4. Go
inside! 5. Walk by
6. Sit &
relax
7. Read
someone
else’s book
8. Take a
break from a
bike ride
9. Pet
a dog
10. Have a
conversation

68. THE POWER OF TEN: PLACE

69. THE POWER OF 10: DESTINATIONS

70. POWER OF 10: CITY
Central Park
Times Sq
Bryant Park
Madison Sq
Union Sq
Washington Sq

71. Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper
• Comfort, Amenities & Public Art
• Activation Events
• Interim Public Spaces
• Light Development

72. Baltimore, MD: City Hall Plaza

78. San Antonio: Travis Park

79. San Antonio: Travis Park: Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper

80. San Antonio: Travis Park: Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper

81. San Antonio: Travis Park: Before

82. San Antonio: Travis Park: Opening Day, Evening

83. San Antonio: Travis Park: Concepts and Diagrams

84. San Antonio: Travis Park: Rendering

85. San Antonio: Travis Park: Opening Day

89. Congress Square Park Portland, ME

90. Hemming Park Jacksonville, FL

91. Providence: Burnside Park: Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper
Burnside Park Providence RI

92. Belle Isle Waterfront Detroit, MI

93. Theaters/
Museums
Transit
Hospitals
Coffee
Shops
Libraries
Schools
Parks
Community
Centers
City Halls
ChurchesOffices
Communities Today

94. City Halls Community
centers
Theaters/
Museums
TransitHospitals
Coffee
Shops
Libraries
Schools
Civic Squares
Community Gathering
Spaces/Parks
Churches
Offices
Communities
of the Future

95. pps.org (read our blog, subscribe to our free newsletter)
@PPS_Placemaking
facebook.com/ProjectforPublicSpaces
PPS_Placemaking