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Place Matters

Great Places represent a holistic pattern and are at the core of our quality of life in a variety of ways that overlap and interconnect. Simply put, the concept of place impacts a vast array of people on a wide range of scales. View our resource library for more in depth information


GREAT PLACES AT EVERY SCALE
 
People and Families
People and Families: Being part of community of place develops a sense of ownership and cooperation which can lead to benefits such as a cleaner, healthier local environment, lower crime rates, increased sense of satisfaction, and reduced energy consumption.

 

Healthy communities
Great Places enhance the quality of urban life, attracting more people and positive energy to our cities. The tight geographic focus allows people to share more and better public goods, strengthening social capital and providing efficient delivery of services and provision of infrastructure.

 
Smart cities and regions
Great Places encourage more compact settlement patterns which can be served by efficient public transportation, reducing commuting time and costs of living, improving air quality, and protecting our open spaces from sprawl
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Global impacts
It all adds up. Greener cities, increased walking, healthier communities, and lower transportation costs combine to create a more sustainable way of life that can improve global human health, reduce our impact on the climate, and help people live more fulfilling lives.		   BENEFITS FOR ALL
 
The Public Commons
Great Places can act as a living room or playground, meeting place, social gathering space, office, recreational room, etc., Individuals who live in and around great places take advantage of the shared amenity and can reduce the size and expense of their homes, and more easily take part in community activities.

 
Community organizations
A great place can help socially-minded organizations and neighborhood groups grow reach out to members, reduce their overhead costs and fulfill their missions more effectively by providing a shared space and an open venue for events.

 
Government
Public officials and agencies can expect more effective delivery of services and a forum to communicate with constituents. More compact cities mean reduced expenses, better public transportation, more affordable housing and better quality schools.

 
Business
Great Places make great economic sense. Vibrant community places and economic development contribute to the critical mass of services, knowledge, employees and customers necessary for successful business and ringing cash registers.
     

Great Places Resource Collection

The concept of placemaking spans such a range of disciplines, from climate change to community organization to retail, that it takes several different perspectives to capture the powerful synergy generated around a place. As part of our core mission of fostering the dialogue around the concept of place, the Great Places Forum has begun gathering a list of web and print resources. This is a work in progress and we encourage you to browse the resources and send us your feedback.
  1. Placemaking: An overview and general Information
  2. Cities and Government: policies and projects at the city, state, national, and international level
  3. Urban Infrastructure and Design: how streets, open space, renewable infrastructure, bicycle and pedestrian transportation interact to create a strong public realm.
  4. Environment, Ecology and Conservation: focus on protecting and enhancing the natural environment
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  5. Architecture and the Built Environment : creating and integrating sustainable built environments around great places
  6. Economic Vitality and Development: how great places stimulate growth and create value for their communities
  7. Community Integration : civic engagement, community organizing, democracy and social justice in the public realm






 
 
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