How to make communal spaces truly community friendly

Communal spaces hold significant importance in municipalities of various scales, serving as vital elements that foster unity within the community. They often serve as a cohesive force, binding diverse populations together to converge and exchange their collective experiences. Communal spaces also have the potential to stimulate local economies. One new trend is that of “[business] owners incorporating new uses that help foster an environment where consumers want to linger,” Shopping Center Business magazine recently reported in an article examining how an old mall in Skokie, Ill., was revitalized with green spaces and wellness amenities.

However, just because a space is communal doesn’t make it inherently community friendly. Poor design can lead to communal spaces that are under-utilized simply because they are unappealing to residents. As cities throughout the nation revive following the pandemic, municipal leaders are diligently ensuring that their communal spaces are optimized to their maximum potential. There’s no shortage of recent projects that municipal leaders can draw inspiration from. Concurrently, there are also a few best practices to ensure cities succeed when recalibrating their communal spaces to be truly community friendly.

One recent example is the High Line Moynihan Train Hall Connector project in New York. The city’s famous High Line—an elevated park and pedestrian walkway—partnered with Empire State Development and Brookfield Properties to build two additional bridges to allow people to walk from the Meatpacking District straight to Penn Station. The project is a case for communal space done right: functional, creative and built with input from the community.

Another strong example is Boston’s Lawn on D, an almost three-acre outdoor event space situated in the city’s beautiful Waterfront District. The space exudes a certain magnetism: a colorful collection of lounge chairs, paved walkways and picnic tables draw the community together and make excellent use of a scenic area. The space is also equipped to host sporting events, live music, outdoor movies and more.

Reimagining communal spaces doesn’t have to mean building anew—just look to Clearwater, Fla. The city’s series of placemaking programs integrate art into existing infrastructure, like the Storm Drain Mural Program, Paint the Pavement, and even Dumpster Art, where the city provides its residents with art supplies like paint and brushes to spruce up otherwise unseemly dumpsters.

For municipal leaders looking to follow in New York, Boston or Clearwater’s footsteps, where to begin? The first step to creating a truly effective communal space is designing it with, and not for, the community. Any space that is being reimagined must be done with ample community input. Organize town hall meetings, host forums and carry out surveys to ascertain the desires of your municipalities’ residents regarding their communal spaces. Are they seeking an increase in green areas, expanding outdoor dining options or the development of a vibrant shopping hub? Armed with accurate and relevant data, you will be able to effectively precisely implement the right project to meet their expectations.

It’s also important to stay abreast of broader trends. In other words, know what’s in demand when it comes to communal spaces. For example, on the heels of the pandemic, people are keener than ever to spend time outside and get fresh air. This could mean an upgrade to public parks: introducing more benches, building a playground or simply placing a centerpiece fountain. In New York in spring 2021, designer Mimi Lien transformed Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Josie Robertson Plaza into a massive lawn for New Yorkers to enjoy as the iconic cultural landmark was restarting its performances. People are also keen for their communal spaces to be functional, especially when it comes to clean energy and a healthy environment. This same park could also be equipped with solar panels or feature a meadow that accommodates bees and other wildlife, rather than perfectly manicured grass.

In 2023 and beyond, take the time to reconsider communal spaces. Sometimes the status quo isn’t enough, and local leaders should invest serious time and thought into the art of placemaking. By successfully converting your communal spaces into genuinely community-friendly assets, your municipality stands to gain numerous advantages.

Celeste Frye, AICP is co-founder and CEO of Public Works Partners LLC, a WBE/DBE/SBE certified planning and consulting firm specializing in multi-stakeholder initiatives and building strong connections across the government, nonprofit and private sectors.