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

"But there are other ways of approaching exercise. In many nations, movement is baked into everyday life — as a way to commute from one place to another, to build community or to connect with nature." The New York Times offers inspiration from across the globe to overcome America's "pay-to-play" approach to fitness. And guess what? Many of the solutions are about rethinking the role of the public realm as the place for being active. https://lnkd.in/e6UKG3PG #publicspace #fitness #nature #connection #wellbeing

“American ambulators walked faster and schmoozed less than they used to. They seemed to be having fewer of the informal encounters that undergird civil society and strengthen urban economies.” A new interdisciplinary study of key streets and public spaces in Boston, NYC and Philadelphia published by the National Bureau of Economic Research finds troubling trends of pedestrians walking faster and lingering less now than they did in 1980. This change in behavior has implications for social connection, urban life, economic productivity and innovation. More reason to invest intentionally in public spaces that encourage human connection. Bloomberg CityLab Arianna Salazar-Miranda Keith Hampton Carlo Ratti David Zipper #research #economy #publicspace #connection H/T: Joseph Cortright https://lnkd.in/gVyMC4mN

“Reimagining the Civic Commons comes with a level of rigor that isn’t often found in these types of projects.” Fantastic to see George Abbott of Hyde Family Foundation on cityCURRENT with Jeremy C. Park on the importance of investing strategically in public spaces that connect people of different backgrounds for stronger communities, the Civic Commons efforts in Memphis and the value of measuring this work for learning and innovation. Watch George’s interview here: https://lnkd.in/eGa8XscV And view Memphis metrics report here: https://lnkd.in/ex5Z8iqg Memphis River Parks Partnership Overton Park Conservancy Heights CDC Innovate Memphis Memphis Public Library City of Memphis Downtown Memphis Commission

Tools for the Trade: Communities Need Hubs, Havens, and Hangouts ICYMI: Planning Magazine featured an article by Reimagining the Civic Commons director Bridget Marquis and Washington Housing Conservancy executive director Kimberly Driggins in their print edition. American Planning Association #planning #cities #design #socialinfrastructure #connection Gehl - Making Cities for People RWJF You can read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/emB-NMvQ

"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