Project for Public Spaces, a nationwide organization promoting placemaking and activation of public community spaces, invited a growing group of public space professionals—including planners, designers, place managers, public officials, artists, researchers, activists, and others—to participate in a State of Public Space Survey.
The survey gathered responses from over 700 individuals across 57 countries and 48 U.S. states, with 76% of responses from North America. Respondents represented a diverse mix of sectors and an even wider diversity of industries, with City Planning representing the greatest share at only 16%.
The report resulting from the survey identified seven takeaways and major topics to explore solutions: Aging Infrastructure, Bureaucracy, Homelessness, Access, Social Isolation, Climate Change, and Disinvestment and Gentrification.
As part of the State of Public Spaces Survey, respondents recommended 375 public spaces and placemaking projects that inspired them, including parks, plazas, trails, streets, markets, public buildings, districts, pop-up projects and events, infrastructure reuse projects, and policies and programs. These examples (available in this map) may be especially informative to communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly.