How public space improve people’s lives
Using urban space actively leads to small, meaningful interactions and well let’s face it a bunch of meaningless interactions. When you live in a metropolis such as New York City, where I was born and raised, you take notice of the little acts of kindness that take place on the street. One such act took place this morning. As I was battling against wind and rain to get into work I saw a girl walking towards me without an umbrella, dragging her suitcase towards Penn Station, or so I assumed. Just then a random stranger gave her his umbrella, saying that he had a car and she obviously needed the protection more than him. That small gesture completely made my morning. It isn’t every day that you see one complete stranger looking out for another complete stranger, especially during rush hour in Manhattan. Or maybe it happens more than you think?
The reason I began studying and designing cities was to create urban spaces that would foster those interactions and allow people the possibility and occasion for spontaneous interactions. I’m sure in New York, a city of over 8 million people, small acts of kindness between strangers in the urban setting occur more frequently then we think. However, in the hustle and bustle of midtown Manhattan do we have the space or the occasion to see these occurrences or yet to just interact with one another, playing small roles in each other’s daily lives.
This is why I find public space and complete streets to be essential to urban living. Of course, the umbrella in the rain example took place on a sidewalk and did not need a designated and well-designed public space; however, interactions are much more likely to take place when people have areas to retreat to in the city. An example of such a place would be the High Line, just minutes away from my office; the High Line is reclaimed urban space that was designed as a public access point to recreation and enjoyment. Thousands of people make their way across the High Line each day and many stop to take in the scenery. Not only does this space allow for activity, but it provides a calm and peaceful sanctuary that contrasts the chaotic nature down below.
Public spaces such as the High Line, may not be the exact answer to all urban issues, but it allows people the opportunity to stop, look, and listen to everything around them and maybe take notice of people and places that may otherwise go unnoticed. Public spaces provide the introduction for urban social interactions. Where that leads is totally up to you.
