5 Ways Public Spaces Make Everyday Life More Affordable How parks, libraries and trails quietly lower your household costs

Public spaces make everyday life more affordable. A recent article by @civiccommonsus.bsky.social lays out five concrete ways public spaces lower household costs. 🔗 medium.com/reimagining-...

🌆 A congested intersection→the heartbeat of #DowntownDetroit. Campus Martius Park proves one great public space can transform a city. Learn more about 7 outstanding places featured at the 5th International #PlacemakingWeek 🔗 www.pps.org/article/snea...

📣 Public markets community! Our pay-what-you-can scholarship for "How to Create Successful Markets" is open until April 21 at 11:59pm ET. Learn more & apply now: www.pps.org/events/how-t...

🐕 Turns out, dogs are excellent conversation starters! The Doggie Depot in Arlington, TX, is a successful #ThirdPlace where neighbors meet, linger, and actually get to know each other. 🔗 Learn more about how conversation is key to a high-performing third place: www.pps.org/article/what...

📣 Ready to bring a new market to life or revitalize an existing one? Our "How to Create Successful Markets" training is back—now on demand, covering a wide range of topics! Learn more and register today: 🔗www.pps.org/events/how-to-create-suc...

Placemaking Is Dead, Long Live Placemaking! Max Musicant and Shina Shayesteh make a case that the term “placemaking” needs to be reclaimed as a holistic, ongoing approach to creating meaningful, community-centered places.

"Placemaking Is Dead, Long Live Placemaking!" argues that the term "placemaking" has become so broadly applied that it's lost its meaning. Read the article by Max Musicant @maxmusicant.bsky.social & Shina Shayesteh, and reflect on how you use the term: www.pps.org/article/plac...

Introducing our 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 diagram, which captures the three core impacts #MarketCities deliver:
👉 Inclusive & Diverse Economies
👉 Social Connection & Wellbeing
👉 Climate Action & Resilience

Learn more: 🔗 pps.org/article/impa...

⏰ Today’s the last day to register early for the 5th International Placemaking Week. Register by tonight, 3/30 at 11:59pm ET! 🔗 www.placemakingweek.org
Today is your last chance to save $100 & apply for a pay-what-you-can scholarship. 🎥 Visit Detroit

Sneak Peek: Seven Detroit Experiences at Placemaking Week 2026 From a legendary food market to a beloved riverfront, these Detroit gems are front and center at this year's Placemaking Week—and they've got stories worth hearing.

We just published a preview of 7 outstanding public places in #Detroit that will be featured at the 5th Int'l #PlacemakingWeek, 6/24–26. From a legendary food market to a beloved riverfront, these gems have stories worth hearing! www.pps.org/article/snea...

Thank you!

📣 Registration is now open for "How to Create Successful Markets," our on-demand training built on expertise from the Project for Public Spaces Market Cities Program and a global network of public market professionals. 🔗 www.pps.org/events/how-t...

Project for Public Spaces was started in 1975 to set out and prove why public space matters. Now we're charting what comes next. Read our full letter from our Co-EDs and new strategic plan. 🔗 www.pps.org/article/lett... #Placemaking #PublicSpace

Learn from experts in our mini-course, "Intro to Inclusive & Equitable Community Engagement" — a two-session online mini-training on 3/17 & 3/19 for urban planners, transit professionals, and community practitioners. A group rate & AICP credits are available! 🔗 www.pps.org/events/an-in...

Are you feeling more isolated than ever? In "What is a Third Place?", we explore why #thirdplaces are more important than ever 🔗 www.pps.org/article/what...
This logic model shows the key elements that help define a #thirdplace, as outlined by #RayOldenburg in "The Great Good Place."

🔊 Listen in on PPS Co-Executive Director Kelly Verel's conversation with Food Sleuth Radio host Melinda Hemmelgarn, M.S., R.D. about the crucial role in strengthening regional economies and supporting public health. 🔗 exchange.prx.org/pieces/609982

📣 Early Registration for the 5th Int'l #PlacemakingWeek is now open! 🔗 www.placemakingweek.org
Co-hosted with the Downtown Detroit Partnership, this year's event will take place in Detroit, MI, from 6/24-26. Our last Placemaking Week sold out—registering early is strongly recommended!

⏰ Hurry! Early rate + “pay what you can” scholarship for our Inclusive & Equitable Community Engagement mini-training end tomorrow, 2/12 at 11:59pm ET.🔗 www.pps.org/events/an-in... Learn from experts Connect the Dots: ⛲ Marisa Denker 🌳 Stephanie Fuentes⛲ ‍Sylvia García-García 🌳 Elena Madison, PPS

📣 FREE RESOURCE: In the spirit of caring for community & protecting our shared civic spaces, we're making the recording of our webinar “Protecting Civic Life & Liberties in Public Space” freely available to all: 🔗www.pps.org/events/made-by-all-prote...

Project for Public Spaces Awards Community Placemaking Grants to Reimagine Streets for Safer, More Mobile Communities Project for Public Spaces announced today that it has selected two nonprofits and one municipality to receive Community Placemaking Grants: Streets as Places & Destinations Stations to transform outdo...

🎉 Congrats to our Community Placemaking Grantees as they reimagine streets & mobility hubs! 🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/2026PPSCPG TY General Motors 📍Campus Martius District (Downtown Detroit Partnership)📍East Side Social District (City of Traverse City)📍Saratoga Plaza (Southbank Partners) Newport, KY

A woman stands beside a swing set in an outdoor playground, watching a young girl swing forward with a smile. The playground is surrounded by grass and apartment buildings in the background. Overlaid text reads, “Open SPACES are the prescription for a healthier childhood."

Safe, inclusive public spaces are essential for children’s health, learning and social connection.

Yet access is shrinking: only 44% of urban residents live near open public space.

Cities can change this.

Read the new guide on creating public spaces for children 👉 bit.ly/4jZyksQ

We’re thrilled to welcome Max Crema & Mitchell Silver to our Board—bringing deep expertise in public interest law, urban planning, parks, and placemaking. We’re also excited to share that Reena Agarwal is stepping into the role of Chair. See our board members: www.pps.org/our-team#board

“Public Space may be the prerequisite for democracy, but its presence alone is not enough. Only the People can ensure the publicness of our public spaces and the vitality of our #democracy.” Fred Kent
www.pps.org/article/open...
@ppsplacemaking.bsky.social @placemakingx.bsky.social

If your organization or city agency has been considering becoming the co-host of the 13th International Public Markets Conference in 2027, now is the time to take action! Be sure to submit a concise Letter of Interest by this Thursday, January 22. 🔗https://publicmarkets.pps.org/
#PublicMarkets

How Readers Voted on 17 Ways to Improve New York City

Did you vote? @nytimes.com architecture critic Michael Kimmelman presented a playful crowdsourced wish list for readers to weigh in, and the results are in! 🔗 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/a...

Register early for our mini-course, "An Introduction to Inclusive & Equitable Community Engagement," taking place 3/17 & 19. Learn foundational theory, tools, and case studies to build an inclusive and equitable outreach & engagement strategy. 🔗Register www.pps.org/events/an-in...

How to Create Successful Markets (On Demand) | Events — Project for Public Spaces Our foundational online training for market managers, staff, board members, and supporters is back—now in a convenient on-demand format that you can complete at your own pace! Registration opens in Ma...

Our signature "How to Create Successful Markets” online training will soon be available in a convenient ON-DEMAND format that you can complete on your own schedule, at your own pace! Registration opens in March & course access available starting in May. 🔗 www.pps.org/events/how-t...

2025, what a ride! Thank you for being here for every moment. 🥂 If you’e able, it's not too late to make a donation before the year ends to help us keep this work going. Here’s to all we shared—and what’s next!🔗 www.pps.org/donate

The Power of Placemaking - JSTOR Daily Why the social, political, and emotional dimensions of public spaces matter, and how people themselves play a central role in creating them.

Drawing on real-world examples, @natestorring.bsky.social sits down with Sara Ivry for @jstordaily.bsky.social to discuss how fostering belonging and strengthening communities are more important than ever. 🔗 daily.jstor.org/the-power-of...

Determined to meet the growing needs of our placemaking community, we're more committed than ever to supporting the people who ensure that public spaces thrive—Please consider making an end-of-year gift to support our work before December 31! 🔗 www.pps.org/donate

Info Session: 13th International Public Markets Conference (Call for Cities) | Events — Project for Public Spaces We’re looking for the next city to co-host the 13th International Public Markets Conference in 2027! Join us for an Info Session to learn more about the Call for Cities process and how to submit a Let...

🎥 Missed the info session? You can now watch the webinar recording! 🔗 www.pps.org/events/info-...