Reimagining the Civic Commons

Public spaces are central to local economies. “When you go to a neighborhood park or hang out at a recreation center, you may not think about the economic impact of the public amenity you are enjoying. But research shows that our public spaces can generate significant economic value. “And when investments are made with intention, public spaces can help catalyze equitable economic opportunity in cities and neighborhoods while reducing costs from health care to climate change.” #publicspace #economy #localgov #economicdevelopment #value #equity #research #climatechange #investments https://lnkd.in/ePhWm96D

"In Seoul, the restored waterway has been a triumph. It doesn’t just provide a peaceful refuge from the city’s busy streets, it serves as a cultural corridor with year-round festivals and performances, while helping cool the surrounding neighbourhoods, fighting air pollution and managing increasingly intense monsoon floods." When we invest strategically in civic infrastructure we can benefit communities in so many different ways. Truly delivering on the triple bottom line. https://lnkd.in/euv67sg7

Resources, readings, and listens from Omidyar Network, RUSI Europe, Reimagining the Civic Commons, and more in this week's Democracy Notes ✨Encore✨

The Reimagining the Civic Commons model represents a paradigm shift in how cities design, program and manage their public spaces. Need some local inspiration? Here are snapshots from 10 civic commons efforts across the country. https://lnkd.in/ey-eab_b Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition City of Akron, Ohio Live6 Alliance - Detroit City of Detroit Invest Detroit Memphis River Parks Partnership City of Memphis Innovate Memphis Overton Park Conservancy Fairmount Park Conservancy Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Bartram's Garden CENTENNIAL PARKSIDE CDC STRAWBERRY MANSION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION INC CivicLex Blue Grass Community Foundation Macon-Bibb County Consolidated Government Environmental Initiative Guadalupe River Park Conservancy City of San José San Jose Downtown Association Downtown Camden NJ Camden Community Partnership Tri-State Trails City of Cincinnati

An excellent read by Diana Lind in Slate on how to break the cycle of virtual life that is making us lonely and unhappy. “Throughout the pandemic, the media focused on the idea of the ‘urban doom loop,’ in which remote work would kill downtowns, triggering a downward spiral of reduced services that would cause people to leave cities. What went overlooked has turned out to be the bigger and even more consequential story: the human doom loop, a cycle in which people stop connecting in real life, reducing the quality of in-person activities and the physical realm itself, further discouraging IRL activities, and so on. Nearly five years after the pandemic, it’s not the real estate we need to worry about. It’s us... “The pattern is clear: The more we go online, the less we show up in person. And the less we show up, the less likely our physical realm will offer experiences that can compete.” https://lnkd.in/e9HHKjzh

Reimagining the Civic Commons is grateful for the ongoing support of The JPB Foundation—now the Freedom Together Foundation—since our earliest days, and incredibly proud to be lifted up as an example of a funder collaborative to learn from in this recently released report. With special appreciation to Dana Bourland, AICP and Jennifer Patrick for being steadfast champions of this work to support more engaged, more resilient and more welcoming communities across the country. We encourage you to read this insightful (and beautiful) report and share it with your foundation colleagues: https://lnkd.in/gRhk9zRj Eric Brown #CivicCommonsUS #civicinfrastructure #philanthropy #impact #learning

Cincinnati's civic commons work earns a thoughtful Cincinnati Public Radio story on the aim for equitable development as part of public space efforts in the long disinvested neighborhoods that make up the Beekman Corridor. Tri-State Trails City of Cincinnati The Port Knight Foundation The Kresge Foundation Freedom Together Foundation William Penn Foundation https://lnkd.in/eYk9sTEZ

Last week, Bridget Marquis, director of Reimagining the Civic Commons, joined Jeff Wood on #TalkingHeadways for a conversation on connecting public assets, the importance of creating metrics that matter and better ways to think about community engagement. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eyBsYixj Streetsblog USA #podcast #civicinfrastructure #civicengagment #publicspace

Take a look at this photo essay capturing how multidisciplinary teams of civic leaders in 10 U.S. cities are transforming public spaces in innovative ways that connect people of all backgrounds, cultivate trust and create more resilient communities. #innovation #publicspace #cities https://lnkd.in/ey-eab_b Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition City of Akron, Ohio Live6 Alliance - Detroit City of Detroit Memphis River Parks Partnership City of Memphis Innovate Memphis Fairmount Park Conservancy Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Bartram's Garden CENTENNIAL PARKSIDE CDC STRAWBERRY MANSION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION INC CivicLex Blue Grass Community Foundation Macon-Bibb County Consolidated Government Environmental Initiative Guadalupe River Park Conservancy City of San José San Jose Downtown Association Downtown Camden NJ Camden Community Partnership Tri-State Trails

"We need a clear and explicit shift that puts relationships, service, and purpose at the heart of society — and our lives." In his parting prescription for America, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy elevates community as the formula for health, wellbeing and fulfillment. These values are central to the work being pursued through Reimagining the Civic Commons in cities across the country. https://lnkd.in/gqmktNFf PEOPLE Magazine | PEOPLE.com #health #wellbeing #community #purpose #civiccommonsus #civicengagement #society