3 reasons why public space is critical infrastructure for people, communities and our democracy
“For decades, we’ve neglected the shared spaces that shape our interactions. The consequences of that neglect may be less visible than crumbling bridges and ports, but they’re no less dire.” — Eric Klinenberg, Researcher, New York University
When you think about infrastructure, do you imagine roads and train tracks, water treatment plants and sewer systems, electrical poles and airport runways? This definition of infrastructure assumes that the main reason for cities to exist is to move cars, trains, water or electricity from place to place. But cities are fundamentally about people. As economist Joe Cortright puts it: “Cities work best when they bring people of diverse backgrounds, with different ideas and perspectives, into close connection…. The civic commons, the places we share with the rest of society, are where interaction underpins opportunity and democracy.”
If cities are primarily about people, then we must broaden our definition of infrastructure to include our public spaces like parks, trails and libraries. These places support human interaction as the critical civic infrastructure of our communities.
These public places have suffered for decades from underinvestment and neglect, with too few people recognizing their value beyond recreation. But that’s changing. A few pioneering cities are recognizing that public places have the power to improve our health, strengthen our economy and support a stronger democracy. Because when our shared public spaces are robust, people have the opportunity to form stronger networks that support longer life expectancy and more resilient communities.
Investing in our public spaces — and recognizing them as critical infrastructure — is more important than ever. Here are three reasons why:
1. Public space improves health and happiness
A growing body of research points to powerful social and health benefits of public space. Americans report greater happiness in states that invest in public spaces like parks and libraries — and this happiness is shared by everyone in a community, not just those who visit the park or library.
People living in communities with more public green space have less mental distress, less anxiety and depression and greater wellbeing. Some research indicates that access to green space can reduce the incidence of psychiatric disorders.
Green spaces are associated with greater trust of strangers, and they help promote social connections and mitigate social isolation. In fact, lower-income communities with high levels of green space have mortality rates similar to those of higher-income communities.
Physical activity is higher in communities with more green space. Even a 10-minute walk improves brain function. And you don’t need access to undeveloped wilderness to get these benefits — even a transformed vacant lot will do.
In Memphis, formerly vacant spaces that used to commemorate the Confederacy have become places that draw in nearby neighbors and tourists alike, connecting people of diverse backgrounds to each other and to the Mississippi River. Through thoughtful, welcoming design, innovative management and creative programming, Memphians and visitors from afar now enjoy a “riverfront for everyone.”
2. Public space is good for business
High-quality public space is in high demand and provides significant economic benefits to communities.
Eighty-five percent of U.S. residents identify proximity to high-quality parks, recreation centers or public space as an important factor in their decision about where to live. Despite this desire, 38 percent of Americans say their community lacks convenient outdoor spaces to run, walk or exercise.
Eighty-three percent of Americans say they personally benefit from local parks, while 92 percent say their communities benefit from these civic assets. The vast majority, 94 percent of Americans, say that having a public library improves the quality of life in a community.
Numerous studies have shown that when a property is adjacent to a park or open space, its value is significantly increased — by up to 40 percent. Meanwhile, poorly maintained parks can detract from the vibrancy and value of nearby properties.
Real estate developers are finding that open space can differentiate a development and provide a competitive advantage. Seventy-nine percent of surveyed investors believe that open space can act as a “crucial catalyst for economic development.”
In the Fitzgerald neighborhood of Detroit, a cross-sector team has made investments in the Fitzgerald neighborhood, co-creating a new park with neighbors and turning abandoned lots to good use as new places for community gardens, a greenway and neighborhood hubs. The collaborative work includes public space improvements in the commercial corridor nearby, designed to attract new businesses to formerly vacant commercial buildings. The strategy is paying off: in addition to Detroit Sip (a locally owned coffee shop), the new “community hub” HomeBase opened to great success earlier this year, and nearby storefronts along W. McNichols Road are becoming homes to new businesses and organizations. Learning from its successes in the Fitzgerald neighborhood, the city is using the principle of improved public space as one of the key pillars of the citywide Strategic Neighborhood Fund.
3. Public space supports local democracy
People living near popular parks report greater community connection and greater satisfaction with local government. And people recognize the value public places provide: Virtually all local government officials (99 percent) agree that their local communities benefit from local parks, and 73 percent of Americans say libraries contribute to promoting a sense of connection among different groups in their local community.
While the trends of economic and demographic segregation pull us apart, the opportunity to bring America together is right in front of us in our civic assets. Our parks, libraries, trails and community centers are more than places — they are the vital civic infrastructure of our communities.
In the Akron, Ohio, neighborhood of Summit Lake, targeted investments in public space and authentic civic engagement have changed the way neighbors view their local government — and each other.
Nearly every trendline shows the U.S. in the grips of increased economic segregation, social isolation and economic inequality. It can seem overwhelming, and yet one part of the antidote is right in front of us: reimagining our civic assets to become vibrant public spaces where people of different backgrounds can meet, mingle, exchange ideas and enjoy each other’s company.
This is the civic infrastructure necessary for opportunity and democracy to flourish. Civic asset managers, developers, elected officials and community leaders must join together to invest in these powerful places.
Want to learn more about how stronger public places can bring America together? Download this Reimagining the Civic Commons two-pager.
Reimagining the Civic Commons is a collaboration between The JPB Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and local partners.
