About Project for public spaces
Project for Public Spaces: Leading the Way in Placemaking
For over four decades, Project for Public Spaces (PPS) has been at the forefront of placemaking, working with communities around the world to create vibrant and inclusive public spaces that bring people together. Founded in 1975 by Fred Kent and Kathy Madden, PPS has since worked with over 3,500 communities across 54 countries to transform their public spaces into thriving hubs of activity.
At its core, PPS believes that great public spaces are essential to building strong communities. Whether it's a park, plaza, market or district, these spaces serve as gathering places where people can connect with one another and build relationships. By creating more inviting and accessible public spaces that reflect the needs and desires of local residents, PPS aims to foster a sense of community pride and ownership.
One of the key ways that PPS achieves this goal is through its unique approach to placemaking. Rather than imposing preconceived ideas on a community from above, PPS works collaboratively with local stakeholders to identify what makes their space special and how it can be improved. This process involves extensive community engagement through workshops, surveys and other outreach efforts designed to gather input from a diverse range of voices.
Once this input has been gathered, PPS works closely with local partners to develop an action plan for transforming the space in question. This may involve physical improvements such as new seating areas or landscaping features; programming initiatives like concerts or festivals; or policy changes such as zoning regulations or traffic calming measures.
Throughout this process, PPS remains committed to ensuring that all members of the community have a voice in shaping their public space. This includes traditionally marginalized groups such as low-income residents or people with disabilities who may face additional barriers when accessing these areas.
In addition to its work on individual projects around the world, PPS also serves as a thought leader in the field of placemaking through research initiatives like its annual "Placemaking Week" conference series. Through these events and other publications like its "Placemaker's Guide" book series ,PSS shares best practices from successful projects around the world while also pushing boundaries by exploring new approaches to creating great public spaces.
Overall,PSS is an organization dedicated not just improving individual parks or plazas but rather transforming entire communities by fostering stronger connections between residents.PSS' innovative approach towards placemaking ensures that every project is tailored specifically towards each unique location while still maintaining high standards for inclusivity,sustainability,and accessibility.This commitment towards excellence has made them one of most respected organizations within their field,and they continue lead way forward when it comes creating vibrant,purposeful,and engaging public spaces worldwide
pps.org
