Public Spaces

Why Green Spaces?

Communities actively shaping their places is the key to sustainability

Cities are vibrant and exciting, but they also can be overwhelming and intimidating. Trees, flowers, a small park, even a sidewalk bench can soften the rough edges of a city. Well-functioning plazas, streets, parks, river fronts or playgrounds nurture people's happiness, wellbeing, sense of belonging and community pride. Community-based Green Spaces are essential building blocks of strong neighborhoods, thriving cities and healthy societies.

Greening Our Cities – Cooling Our Planet

Green Spaces can 'climate proof' cities against global warming

Researchers at the University of Manchester found that a modest 10 per cent increase in the amount of green space in built-up city centers would reduce temperatures by as much as 4°C - the average predicted rise by the 2080s. Green Spaces contribute to helping cool 'urban heat islands' but also help retain and manage storm water run off reducing pollution, flooding, and draught. When designed, promoted and cared for by local people not only do Green Spaces help alleviate rising temperatures, but empower and improve local communities.

Green Spaces Program

We assist people to turn their public spaces into vital, green community places

Through training, technical assistance and seed grant support we assist local communities to identify their needs and create and implement their projects. At the same time the vitality and relationships within the community are strengthened. Our program also introduces new concepts of urban renewal and brownfields regeneration as well as concepts of “smart growth”. In this way we want also to build capacity to make more changes for the better in the future.

   To date we have worked with numerous communities across the region to design and implement “petunia projects” designed to energize and improve communities, municipalities to incorporate principles of “placemaking” into planning and design, internationally renowned organizations to publish and promote new ideas and concepts for improving communities. Our goal is to create a regional Greenspaces/Placemaking Program with full-time coordinators in each EPSD foundation office contributing to promotion of a global Placemaking movement.