Reimagining the Civic Commons, Multiple Cities

An ongoing effort to build capacity, engage the public and measure the success of public space investments across 21 Cities

The civic commons are the network of public spaces – the parks, pools, rec centers, and libraries – that we share as a community and where neighbors of all backgrounds can meet and connect. This multi-year, multi-city effort to reimagine and reactivate these shared spaces is fueled by a belief that smart investments in public space can make a difference in peoples’ lives and build less divisive, more connected and equitable cities.

The initiative began in 2014 and expanded quickly to 21 different cities across the country. We designed and led a process for measuring the impact across 65 metrics at the site, neighborhood, and citywide scales for civic commons work in each city.  Our process harnessed public engagement and provided on the ground training for local partners to actively participate in the initiative.