The Project for Public Spaces, through nearly 40 years of research, has identified principles that are essential when creating places people love. The complete story can be found at “Principles for creating great community places.” Here, we examine the top five.
Lovable place must provide an environment that feels safe, comfortable, and fun.
Consult the experts: members of the community
Start developing a concept for any public space by identifying the talents and assets within the community. Search for historical perspectives, insights into how the community functions, and an understanding of the issues most meaningful to residents.
Realty Capital began this process in October by soliciting input through neighborhood meetings, surveys, forums, social media, and this site that fosters two-way communication. You can find a the results of our amenity survey here. If you haven’t had a chance to voice your preferences of this survey, please click here to take the one-minute survey.
Focus on the place more than the plan
Take a close look at how pedestrians will circulate and develop relationships between the surrounding uses and activities taking place. Build a safe place with a sense of community as well as a setting for activities and uses that add up to more than the sum of its simple parts. This is where the magic happens.
People love places that attract a wide range of ages groups.
Partners are a must
Partners will play a key role in creating an identity for the place. They might range from local institutions and organizations to schools and clubs (e.g., the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association, DOBRA).
The power of observation
Flower Mound residents have visited, even frequented, a number of mixed-use developments that contain elements that they would like to see in Lakeside DFW. Many also can draw upon their experiences growing up in locales around the country that can inform their ideas of what works and what doesn’t.
What’s happening?
Any vision for a public space starts with the types of activities that might take place there. It is those activities that will define it as a place to gather as a community — a place people love and can take pride in.
