In May of 2023, the US Surgeon General released a dire report on the epidemic of loneliness in this country, comparing its negative health effects to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. His number one prescription? Strengthen social infrastructure. Public space has the unique potential to address social isolation and so many other big challenges in our society.
That is why Project for Public Spaces exists, and why we’ve spent the past year expanding our programs to support the people and organizations that care for public spaces around the world. We invite you to explore our 2023 annual report for a taste of our recent partnerships, education, events, research, and technical assistance projects. Read more.
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Coming Soon! • Early registration for the 4th International Placemaking Week in Baltimore, Maryland, US, opens February 25th! In the coming weeks we'll share topics and sessions that will be featured at this long awaited conference, as well some of the mobile workshops that participants can sign up for when they register. Learn more.
January 31, 2-3p ET • To kick off the new year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is hosting a roundtable discussion with new leaders of local, state, and national preservation organizations focusing on new trends in the field, the role of preservation nonprofits, and a vision for the future of preservation. Learn more.
Now through February 27 • Applications are now open for TD Park People Grants 2024! 70 grants of $2,000 are given to community groups and organizations to host two park events across Canada. Learn more.
Now through February 29 • Applications for the National Fund for Sacred Places are now open. The National Fund for Sacred Places provides matching grants of $50,000 to $500,000 to congregations undertaking significant capital projects at historic houses of worship, along with wraparound services including training, technical assistance, and planning support. Learn more.
Have an event or opportunity you would like to share? Email us at [email protected].
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New Ideas for Funding Parks & Open Spaces in NYC. While most people can agree that public spaces like parks and open streets offer priceless benefits to local communities, the issue of funding is never far behind. For this reason, it's exciting to learn that writers and researchers Eli Dworkin and John Surico, who recently wrote about Access and Linkages on PPS.org, have put forth a new report outlining 20 fresh funding ideas for New York, which can be applied to other cities. The ideas range from levying a fee on for-profit events dedicated to parks maintenance to launching a citywide conservancy for street tree planting and maintenance. (Center for an Urban Future)
Activists Urge UK to Clear "Pavement Clutter." Last October, Centre for London, a think tank, released a report on three streets in the capital. They identified over 120 items of clutter, ranging from sandwich boards to e-bikes, and found that at least half of these items are having a moderate to severe negative impact on pedestrians. In fact, research by the nonprofit Living Streets found that trips and falls on London's streets cost the city £500m a year and led to 30,000 hospital admissions. Armed with this information, safer street advocates are calling on the government for better regulation and on locals to be more mindful of caring for the streets in front of their homes and businesses. (The Guardian)
How Florida is Turning Unused Space into Skate Parks. When staff at Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency in Tallahassee, Florida, learned that skaters were using a downtown war memorial as a park, they did something innovative. Instead of installing "Keep Off" signs or blocking off the area, the organization held a public meeting with 70 local skaters to learn about what they wanted as an alternative. Equipped with this information, the city agency was able to build the Skateable Art Park near the original contested site. Now skaters skip over the war memorial and flock to the new park for public art, free lessons, and a sense of ownership. (American Planning Association)
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As always, here's a roundup of placemaking projects and ideas that inspired us this week:
- The short film "The Place Man" on Project for Public Spaces Co-Founder Fred Kent is available to stream for free (PlacemakingX)
- Picturesque ice skating rinks are popping up across the US (New York Times)
- From Milan to Seville and Brussels, learn how European cities are leading a green mobility revolution (Planetizen)
- 15 ideas for incorporating water into public space design (ArchDaily)
- Learn how pedestrian malls can spur economic activity and social connection (Next City)
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4th International Placemaking Week Sponsor Spotlight
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We're thrilled to welcome Open Works, one of the largest nonprofit makerspaces in America, as a Bronze Sponsor!
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With a mission to make tools, technology, and the knowledge to use them accessible to all, Open Works offers public access to industrial tools, light industrial co-working space, technical education for all ages, and contract fabrication services. Learn more!
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We're inviting institutions of all sizes to sponsor the 4th International Placemaking Week in Baltimore, June 5-8, 2024. This is a special opportunity to advance your organization's mission and form lasting connections with leaders in the field of public space. Benefits include free conference registrations, media mentions, and much more. Explore the sponsorship package.
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