Public spaces could better meet community needs: survey

Public spaces shape how we live together—whether we bump into a neighbor, sit under a tree, or just pass through on the way to somewhere else. But according to a new survey from Project for Public Spaces, only 5% of professionals believe those places are meeting community needs. The biggest hurdles? Limited funding and too much red tape. Still, the benefits are clear: better health, stronger connections, even climate resilience. The work isn’t done—but we are starting to acknowledge it’s work worth doing.