New York City lacks the kind of public gatherings places that other world-class cities are known for, and lets existing public spaces fall into disrepair, says this News Day editorial.

“Out of fear, our urban designers have gone into siege mode and handed over the reins of design to the security professionals. No one will want to use any public space next to a 20-story blank wall, no matter how many hi-tech special effects are built into it.”

Chris Heitmann recommends that as farmers markets grow in popularity around the country, communities direct efforts towards developing partnerships and strategic planning, in order to thrive and reap the economic and social benefits that markets bring to neighborhoods.

Earlier this month the founders of the Oak Park Farmers Market and their successors were honored at a 30th anniversary commemoration for nurturing the Farmers Market into one of the most popular events of the community.

PPS sponsored a briefing and reception with the support of the Ford Foundation and WK Kellogg Foundation on Monday, July 18, 2005 in Washington DC. (view event invitation and details.)

PPS worked with Seattle Parks and Recreation to bring people and activity into Freeway Park, which has few users due to lack of signage and maintenance, and a perception of danger. PPS worked with the community to develop recommendations that included physical changes to open up the park and draw people in. The effort is beginning to pay off; the park is hosting lunchtime concerts that draw around 100 people, the Seattle Public Library will hold regular used book sales, and local business and residents are seeing a change in attitude towards the park.

The Dorthea Dix Hospital will close in 2007, leaving Raleigh, NC with the opportunity to create a master plan for the redevelopment of 315 hilly acres. There are many differing opinions on what the future site should be, ranging from a public park, to high-density private development, or even another hospital, but Kathy Madden feels the community is the expert; “That mental hospital and that land is in an existing community and has stakeholders already. They’re the ones who should decide.”

Steve Davies discusses how public markets are not only important as great places and destinations, but are also vital to city - and family - economies.

“After shedding residents for decades, many U.S. cities revived in the 1990s, with immigrants streaming in and gentrification resurrecting downtowns with lofts, coffee bars and trendy restaurants.

But new Census Bureau estimates to be released today show many cities slipping again. More than two dozen large cities that had been growing a decade ago are shrinking. Fast-growing suburbs with service-sector jobs and more affordable housing are attracting thousands of foreign-born residents who in the past would have started out in the city.”

As a part of PPS’s work in Tucson, AZ, the City has reduced two major downtown streets from three lanes to two lanes, and created an additional 150 parking spaces. The goal of the change is to discourage use of these streets for through traffic, encourage use by drivers who are going to visit downtown destinations, and to ultimately create a more pedestrian-friendly environment.