Community and the Public Realm

“The street is the river of life of the city, the place where we come together, the pathway to the center.”
-William H. Whyte, the founder of the Project for Public Spaces

I spend a lot of my time walking around cities, observing other people, and thinking about the public realm. The summer, in particular, is a wonderful time to see how the built environment can encourage a sense of community and place. From music in the park to street closures that allow for night movies and farmer's markets, cities near and far are showcasing a host of creative ideas. This blog entry is part of a larger series about reclaiming the urban landscape . . . and having fun in the process.

Tonight I went to Temescal Street Cinema and saw the documentary Trust about an amazing arts organization called the Albany Park Theater Project.