Today’s Morning Buzz is by Mary King, a writer and researcher with Envisio, a public-sector-focused strategic planning and performance management software. Connect with Mary or Envisio on LinkedIn.
A funny TikTok I saw recently: I recently re-watched a TikTok of this guy drinking bubble tea for the first time, but he wasn’t expecting the tapioca bobas. He freaks out and spits bubble tea all over his car in the most astonishing way I’ve ever seen anyone spit out anything. It’s extremely funny.
What I’m listening to: Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Neil Young
What I’m working on: I just finished working on some essays and short stories, and I’m now turning my attention to starting a vegetable garden!
The importance of investing in accessible, inclusive, and well-designed public spaces goes beyond recreation. Though recreation contributes to a vibrant community, when that is the only benefit we assume public space has, it is being viewed too narrowly. Seeing public space only through those dimensions can lead to the deprioritization of public spaces, where parks or other common areas are a luxury.
This risks neglecting the essential role public spaces play in sustaining democracy and creating societal wellness.
Well-planned public spaces encourage civic participation, strengthen social ties, reduce violent crime, and support a more engaged and resilient society. The existence of free, publicly accessible and open areas, where people can gather for interaction and civic engagement, are essential to the social and democratic fabric of communities.
Increasingly, public spaces (particularly in cities) are shrinking or disappearing due to privatization (partial or complete), restrictive policies, and inadequate investment. The rise of surveillance, corporate-controlled plazas, and gated communities has fundamentally changed the character and existence of many public spaces.
Public spaces where one can merely exist, relax, meet with others, witness the elements of daily life in their communities, and otherwise participate without needing to purchase something to be there, are critical. They are sites for gathering, where many (often visible) differences are encountered by one another, where ideas can be exchanged: in other words, where crucial elements of democracy are exercised, practiced, and made visible. It is time for local governments to treat public spaces as vital parts of a democratic infrastructure.
The Role of Public Space in Local Democracy and Civic Life
Public spaces are arenas for civic participation. Historically, town squares and marketplaces were where people debated ideas, voiced concerns, and engaged in the democratic process. Today, public spaces—the street, the park, the square—continue to serve as sites of protest, dialogue, and civic engagement. Political philosopher Jürgen Habermas described public space as the physical manifestation of the public sphere, where individuals come together to discuss and shape collective decisions.
In other words, without accessible public spaces, democracy becomes more abstract, and opportunities for everyday citizens to engage in civic life diminish.
Urbanist William H. Whyte’s research on the social life of small urban spaces highlights how well-designed public areas encourage interaction, discussion, and a sense of belonging. Similarly, urban designer and architect Jan Gehl emphasizes that cities designed at a human scale foster engagement by making public spaces accessible and inviting.
Public spaces are where different perspectives converge, allowing communities to deliberate on civic matters, hold protests, or celebrate cultural events, reinforcing democratic participation. As philosopher Avigail Ferdman notes, public spaces are also contested, often regulated by the state and shaped by political and economic forces, making their protection vital for preserving an open and inclusive society.
Democracy is messy, and this is something we are always grappling with. Public spaces, too, are sites of that messy convergence. But when we can’t sit with that discomfort, when we move to smother them, disappear them, or place them in the hands of profit-seeking entities, we lose something really important that we can’t afford to lose right now.
A healthy democracy requires understanding your community, being able to be comfortable with differences, and being able to engage with those differences. A healthy civic community is one that includes caring about your neighbor, knowing them, interacting with them, and being invested in what happens to your community.
Public spaces are the arena where these things are actually happening.
Well-Designed Public Spaces and Public Safety
Beyond democracy, public spaces play a major role in mental and physical health, and social connection.
Let’s take public parks as a quintessential public space. Parks have become sites of controversy and discourse around public safety, with discussions on how public spaces are unsafe; that they are places of violent crime, with homelessness cited as the main risk factor.
In this case, increased surveillance, policing, and privatization are often the front lines of how cities consider “fixing” their public spaces. But these short-term quick fixes come at the price of limiting the many things that make public space so important in the first place.
While violent crime is on the rise since 2020, data from the FBI shows that 51% of violent crimes actually took place in private residences. And while alleyways, parking lots, garages, and streets made up the bulk of the rest of the number, parks only accounted for 1% of violent crime. But it’s what we see, so it’s understandable that it is what we’re going to panic about the most.
Research has consistently shown that well designed (meaning, not neglected) urban green spaces, such as parks and community gardens, have actually been shown to reduce crime, improve public safety, and foster social connections.
In fact, in studies across 301 major U.S. cities, in all but three cities, this was shown to be the case. Well-maintained green spaces are associated with lower rates of violent crime, and access to public parks and openly accessible green spaces also reduces stress, improves mental health, and fosters social cohesion. Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that the homeless folks who are often arguably disproportionately feared in parks, are more likely to actually be the victims of violent crimes in public, rather than the perpetrators.
It goes beyond parks. Other countries have investigated their hypothesis on improving the perception of safety in public space through design, in the face of serious violent crime that was preventing people, particularly women, from feeling comfortable in public spaces. Chile, for instance, studied experiences and perceptions of safety in well-designed streets, squares, and other public gathering places, focusing on low-income areas. The well-designed public spaces—good lighting, pedestrian-friendly streets, and pleasant gathering places—actually significantly improved perceptions of safety, for both men and women.
The understanding of this phenomenon in these studies is that well-lit and well-designed parks, pedestrian-friendly streets, and gathering places encourage people to spend more time outdoors. It strengthens community ties and increases community pride.
Other interventions, such as regenerating the public space in question so it is well-designed with better lighting, open sight lines, and community programming, enhances overall safety and creates more inclusive environments.
When public spaces are neglected through budget cuts, privatized and restricted, or poorly designed, communities suffer.
Well-maintained public spaces create opportunities for spontaneous interactions, cross-cultural exchanges, and collective experiences that build trust and neighborliness.
Six Ways Local Governments Can Prioritize Public Space
To ensure that public space remains a cornerstone of democracy and well-being, local governments have the opportunity to adopt a strategic and inclusive approach. Here are six key steps they can take:
- Develop a City-Wide Public Space Strategy – A public space strategy should assess existing spaces, identify gaps, and set long-term goals for accessibility, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. The strategy should be action-oriented, ensuring that planning, investment, and maintenance align with community needs.
- Invest in Accessible and Inclusive Design – Public spaces should be designed for everyone, including people with disabilities, seniors, and low-income communities. These are the people most often excluded from public spaces through things like lack of access, but they are a critical part of our communities. Cities should prioritize walkability, shade, seating, and recreational features that encourage diverse use.
- Protect Against Privatization and Over-Surveillance – As tempting as it might be to choose the option that seems to offer a quick fix for public safety concerns, research tells us to consider alternatives to privatizing our environments. Not letting spaces go neglected and anti-social, and other local policies can ensure that public spaces remain free, open, and welcoming, rather than subject to excessive restrictions or surveillance that deter civic participation.
- Encourage Civic Engagement in Public Spaces – Governments can use public spaces as platforms for civic dialogue, hosting town halls, cultural events, and community meetings in accessible locations. Providing open forums for residents to voice concerns and collaborate on solutions strengthens democratic participation.
- Remember that Streets are Public Spaces – Streets are often overlooked as public spaces, yet they hold immense potential for civic life. Expanding pedestrian zones, closing streets to cars on weekends, and investing in bike-friendly infrastructure can turn streets into thriving community hubs.
- Foster Community-Led Place-Making – Local governments should empower residents to shape their public spaces. Participatory budgeting, community design workshops, and local stewardship programs can ensure that public spaces reflect the needs and identities of the people who use them.
In addition to these six steps, conducting audits to evaluate accessibility, usability, and safety can ensure that public spaces continue to serve their intended function.
West Hollywood – A Practical Example of Public Space Strategic Planning
West Hollywood is actively promoting public space through its climate action plan by prioritizing sustainable transportation and enhancing pedestrian-friendly environments. If you look at their Envisio-powered public dashboard, you can learn more about their efforts in this area, which include expanding pedestrian infrastructure, such as shaded seating and accessible sidewalks, and creating more green space through projects like the Sky Sanctuaries: San Vicente Streetscape, which will add a quarter-acre of new public space. These plans show a community committed to reimagining public spaces as key components of sustainable mobility, community well-being, and urban livability.
The Future of Public Space and Local Governance
It’s time for public spaces to be seen as a necessity for democratic health and community well-being. When local governments prioritize public spaces, they invest in the social fabric that holds communities together.
In a time when polarization, isolation, and privatization threaten civic life, reclaiming and reimagining public space is one of the most powerful actions local leaders can take. By treating public spaces as essential civic infrastructure, cities can create more engaged, connected, and resilient communities.