Espacio Público Adaptativo

Adaptive
Public
Space
Places for People in the
Pandemic and Beyond
A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF SEVEN SITES IN

AKRON, DETROIT, PHILADELPHIA, AND SAN JOSE
MARCH 2021
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
Gehl evaluated the impact of seven public spaces Gehl / New York
395 Hudson Street, 8th Floor
— each funded in part by Knight Foundation — in New York, NY 10014
Akron, Detroit, Philadelphia, and San Jose. Between
September 2020 and February 2021, Gehl engaged www.gehlpeople.com
mail@gehlstudio.com
a range of stakeholders and leveraged a mix of data
sources to uncover challenges and opportunities
unique and common to these projects. Enclosed are
the findings from this process.
GEHL KNIGHT FOUNDATION
Matthew Lister Evette Alexander

Managing Director Director of Learning & Impact
Julia Day Lilly Weinberg
Director Senior Director of Community
Eamon O’Connor & National Initiatives
Project Manager Kyle Kutuchief
Olivia Flynn Program Director, Akron
Designer
Rebecca Cook
Designer
Adriana Akers
Reference
Sofie Thorsen
Reference
Knight Foundation & Gehl 2

Contents
INTRODUCTION
Executive Summary 4
Overview of Public Spaces Studied 12
FINDINGS
2020 in Focus 16
1 / Everyday Public Space 20

2 / Residents at the Center 30
3 / Community Ripple Effect 40
4 / Sustaining in the Long Run 50
CONCLUSION
Considerations for the Field 58
APPENDICES
1 / Methodology 64
2 / Online Survey Analysis 70
3 / Social Media Analysis 76
3 Adaptive Public Space

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This study of seven flagship public

spaces reveals how local leaders
generated impact through their
responsiveness to community needs
— laying the groundwork for more
equitable outcomes and greater
resilience during the pandemic.
B
uilding on its longtime The Approach Everyday Public Space: How do
commitment to design and programming shape
public spaces, Knight Located in Akron, Detroit, visitors’ use of and engagement with
Foundation commissioned the space?
Philadelphia, and San Jose,
Gehl — a global urban planning, the seven projects in this study
design, and strategy firm — to Residents at the Center: How
represent $5 million in direct does the space reflect, welcome,
conduct an impact assessment of Knight investments. An additional and empower those who live in the
seven public spaces in its portfolio. $50 million in co-funding and community?
The findings illustrate the power follow-on investments from other
of public space as a platform funders including the Reimagining Community Ripple Effect: What
for community development: the Civic Commons network went broader impacts is the space having
whether by building resident trust, toward these sites, wider area on the community, city, and beyond?
spurring social activity, supporting improvements and ongoing space
economic and workforce operations. The spaces range Sustaining in the Long Run: How
development, or catalyzing widely: neighborhood parks that does the project sustain operationally
neighborhood change. give residents a go-to gathering and financially over time?
spot; nature spaces that re-engage
This power makes public spaces a locals with the outdoors; and COVID-19: Are residents visiting
key ingredient in the recovery from these projects amid the pandemic,
citywide destinations that offer art
COVID-19 — a crisis that has raised and how are operators adapting to
studios, beachscapes, and more.
new conditions?
the stakes for overcoming deeply
rooted, systemic challenges in our Given the diversity of spaces, this The Gehl team gathered pre- and
cities. For policymakers, funders, study did not set out to measure mid-pandemic data from multiple
and practitioners, these findings the spaces against one another sources, including: interviews and
are a call to action. By elevating using a common set of metrics. The focus groups with over 50 people
public spaces, leaders nationwide goal was to understand impacts (including grantees, city government
can drive more equitable outcomes related to four core themes, and to leaders, volunteers and artists-in-
in the pandemic and beyond. life during the COVID-19 pandemic: residence); an online survey of over

800 respondents near each space; programming, historic character, 67 percent felt the spaces were
existing and new observational data and the arts invited regular essential to their neighborhoods —
on space use; and an analysis of over
activity. Across the board, 82 figures that rose for neighborhood
450 posts of geotagged Instagram percent of survey respondents parks especially.
activity. The findings that follow are
feel positively about these
the result of this multi-method study.
projects and 59 percent visit at Participatory engagement
least monthly. The two multi- methods helped build this resident
The Findings functional neighborhood spaces belonging and attachment. For
— Detroit’s Ella Fitzgerald Park example, at Akron’s Summit Lake
Public spaces manifest in the and Philadelphia’s Centennial Park — which used prototypes
physical world, but what really Commons — had the highest to engage residents during the
makes them tick is people. As such, rates of regular visitors. Over half design process — 97 percent of
Knight develops partnerships with of respondents visit both spaces respondents felt the project had
communities on the ground and at least weekly, suggesting they changed their neighborhood for
invests in projects that support offered locals ample reasons to the better, up from 57 percent at the
more than design and construction visit — from basketball courts start of the project. Ella Fitzgerald
— funding, for example, and playspaces, to porch swings Park and Centennial Commons,
engagement processes, incubation and warm-weather movie nights. which adopted similar engagement
of new ideas, and workforce The presence of art and historic approaches, also saw the greatest
development. In many cases, architecture also helped drive levels of weekly visitors, enthusiasm,
Knight and other philanthropic engagement. For example, and attachment. These projects
funding sources help absorb risk Philadelphia’s Cherry Street also saw higher rates of attachment
for an innovative new concept and Pier — an arts space housed in among Black respondents —
catalyze additional investment. a revitalized waterfront site — indeed, near neighborhood parks,
had the most active Instagram 79 percent of Black respondents
This people-centered model is engagement of all projects, with agreed the space was “special to
generating impact. A common over 21,000 followers. me,” compared to 70 percent of all
ingredient? High-quality design respondents.
and programming that reflected Challenges to everyday use
and adapted to local needs. This centered on barriers to access. But for many projects, building
approach is what spurred resident For example, the Freight Yard trust among communities of
visits and attachment, and what at Detroit Riverfront sits below- color remains a challenge. This
enabled these public spaces to grade — a dynamic that deterred was especially true at nature
weather disruptions to public life pop-up businesses from posting spaces, for example, where 45
during the COVID-19 pandemic. up at the space, and that leaves percent of Black respondents
Even still, project leaders are some visitors asking for more agreed the space was “special
confronting and addressing wayfinding. Upcoming investments to me,” compared to 56 percent
challenges inherent to public space will address connectivity of all respondents. “[Local
management: from site-specific challenges: the Dequindre Cut will Black residents] don’t always
barriers to access, to longtime eventually integrate into a 26-mile feel encouraged because they
resident distrust. trail under development by the don’t feel outdoor spaces or
City, which will improve access and environmental work have always
Impacts are organized into five key visibility to multiple neighborhoods. been for them,” says Izzy Nelson,
areas. Where possible, findings Community Engagement Manager
were compared across space — for Philadelphia Outward Bound
types and across all projects, RESIDENTS AT THE CENTER School (POBS) at The Discovery
Center. Over time, community-
keeping in mind that intended
centered programming is starting
project outcomes varied. Community participation allowed
to draw in more locals to the
project organizers to build
— project; events include mommy-
trust with residents, which in
and-me workshops and a talk
EVERYDAY PUBLIC SPACE turn increased use and sense of
on environmental racism.
attachment to the spaces. Across
Projects that supported quality all projects, 81 percent of survey
design, resident-centered respondents felt they fit in, and Continued on page 8

Top Learning from a diverse set of
public spaces in Akron, Detroit,
Findings Philadelphia, and San Jose
Public spaces with a strong foundation

of resident engagement helped
communities address equitable access
and weather the pandemic together.
EVERYDAY PUBLIC SPACE

PHOTO: BREE GANT
Ella Fitzgerald Park in

Detroit (left) and Centennial
Projects that supported Commons in Philadelphia
quality design, — flexible neighborhood
spaces — had the most
resident-centered regular visitors, with 54
percent visiting each
programming, historic at least weekly. Cherry
Street Pier, an arts space
character, and the arts on a historic Philadelphia
pier, spurred the most
invited regular activity. Instagram activity.
More starting on page 20
RESIDENTS AT THE CENTER

PHOTO: ALBERT YEE
The Discovery Center

in Philadelphia has
Community participation drawn locals with events
allowed project organizers including mommy-and-me
workshops, an event on
to build trust with environmental racism,
and youth programs; the
residents, which in turn project had among the
highest youth visitorship
increased use and sense of rates.
attachment to the spaces.


COMMUNITY RIPPLE EFFECT
PHOTO: SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIAITION

MOMENT’s $139,000 seed
grant funded a first-of-
Investments catalyzed its kind retail concept in
funding for innovative downtown San Jose, and
led to over $600,000 in
ideas, and led to local funding over the next four
years. Building on the
capacity-building and momentum of Summit
Lake Park in Akron, a $15.5
community development. million vision plan is now
underway in the area.
SUSTAINING IN THE LONG RUN
PHOTO: RENEE RODRIGUEZ

Detroit Riverfront
leverages over 300
Local stewardship, community volunteers
responsive processes, and and data-driven decision-
making to guide ongoing
trusted operators helped maintenance and
improvements to the park;
sites develop sustainable sensors help monitor the
flow and activity of visitors.
operating models and adapt
to changing conditions.
COVID-19
PHOTO: GEHL
Detroit Riverfront and

Cherry Street Pier in
Attention to resident- Philadelphia have seen
centered and flexible spikes in foot traffic.
Visitorship was up over
spaces helped projects threefold between
November 2019 and
adapt during the pandemic November 2020 at Cherry
Street Pier — thanks in
and provide safe venues part to the site’s garden
restaurant, a popular
for solo and social activity. outdoor hangout.

— Zoo to clean other parts of the At Detroit Riverfront, data-driven
COMMUNITY RIPPLE EFFECT neighborhood, and to fundraising decision making helps space
for Centennial Parkside CDC to managers identify how and where
Investments catalyzed funding hire a Director of Sanitation and to adapt — leveraging sensors to
for innovative ideas, and led Environmental Programming. This monitor the flow of visitors and
to local capacity-building and position will increase capacity, develop programs in response.
community development. Direct grow cleaning services, connect
Knight investment of over $5 the program to other workforce MOMENT's curator, SJ Made — a
million in these projects was about development opportunities, and collective of San Jose makers and
10 percent of the overall funding create educational programs entrepreneurs — has been involved
for the sites, many of which saw around litter prevention. More since the beginning of the project
substantial investments from other recently, the project received over design process. With tenants in
funding sources along with Knight $500,000 in follow-on funding for mind, it helped shape a design and
commitments. a second phase of work, and for an operating model that eases their
employee to lead programming in experience. “Any struggles that we
For example, Knight and the Kresge West Fairmount Park. had putting this space together
Foundation each invested up to would have been times ten in a real
$150,000 in Detroit Riverfront's For some projects, though, retail space,” says MOMENT tenant
Freight Yard. For the Riverfront’s public space investments led to Au Nguyen.
Valade Park, Knight’s $225,700 fears of resident displacement
investment in 2017 came with — especially if they were not While no projects stated immediate
over $900,000 in co-funding paired with proactive policy and concern for financial sustainability,
from other sources. In addition, planning. To address these fears, some are actively working to
in 2018, the Valade Family made a local leaders near Summit Lake diversify funding sources and
generous donation of $5 million, Park and The Discovery Center secure ongoing revenue while
which supported construction and are now exploring measures sustaining their missions. This was
operations at the park. like property tax freezes and especially true for larger-scale,
homeownership pathways to citywide destination sites that have
MOMENT’s 2015 Knight Cities ensure longtime residents benefit broad mandates and rely on a
Challenge grant of $139,000 from neighborhood change. combination of philanthropic and
funded a first-of-its-kind retail “It’s going to take proactive sometimes-limited public funding.
concept and led to over $600,000 policy intervention,” says James “We try to operate everything at a
in funding over the next four years. Hardy, Akron’s Deputy Mayor for lower than market rate, which is so
“The [Knight grant] was the seed Integrated Development. great for the community and not
money to get it off the ground,” so great for the operating budget,”
says Chuck Hammers, former — says Cherry Street Pier General
head of the local Property-Based SUSTAINING IN THE LONG RUN Manager Sarah Eberle. Lease
Improvement District in San Jose. revenue from the Pier’s outdoor
Local stewardship, responsive restaurant and bar has been a
At Centennial Commons, Knight’s processes, and trusted operators financial boon — especially during
$1 million capital investment helped sites develop sustainable the pandemic as visitors socialize
through Reimagining the Civic operating models and adapt to outdoors there.
Commons led to over $1.5 million changing conditions. To address
in funding from the Philadelphia a lack of ongoing financial support Both Delaware River Waterfront
Water Department — for for maintenance, Ella Fitzgerald Corporation (DRWC), which owns
installation and maintenance Park embedded co-creation into Cherry Street Pier, and Detroit
of an on-site rain garden. The the design process. This helped Riverfront Conservancy are
funding allowed for the hiring to foster a long-term sense of exploring how they can generate
of five local residents as part ownership: a 2018 survey of revenue outside of traditional
of a workforce development park visitors found 62 percent sources — for example, by using
program; the program’s success participated in stewardship value capture to benefit from
has led to additional contracts or advocacy related to the nearby real estate development.
with the Philadelphia Commerce neighborhood — participation that In the meantime, DRWC is turning
Department and the Philadelphia was vital to maintaining the space. to its other waterfront properties

PROJECTS AT A GLANCE
SPACE TYPE YEAR OPENED PROJECT COST
(inclusive of all
AKRON / SUMMIT LAKE PARK funding sources)²
From environmental liability to beloved lakeside park. Summit Nature

Lake Park provides ample seating and shelter, barbecues, trail 2018 $714,000
Space
connections, and recreational programming on the shores of a
lake that was once seen as an environmental hazard. (RCC¹ site)
DETROIT / ELLA FITZGERALD PARK

From 26 vacant lots to a neighborhood living room. Ella
Fitzgerald Park is the first project in a broader neighborhood Neighborhood
2018 $2,094,318
planning process. It provides public art, recreational space, and Park
an educational and workforce development program for local
youth and transitional workers. (RCC site)
DETROIT / RIVERFRONT
2018 $320,000
From an aging industrial area to a multi-use urban destination. (Freight Yard) (Freight Yard)
The Riverfront includes the Freight Yard, a stop on the Dequindre Citywide
Cut greenway that houses a beer and wine garden, and Valade Destination
2019 $5,200,000
Park, home to a beachscape, floating barge, and two local food (Valade Park) (Valade Park)
businesses.
PHILADELPHIA / CENTENNIAL COMMONS

From no-man’s land to parkside gateway. Centennial Commons Neighborhood
bridges the gap between the Parkside neighborhood and 2018 $4,474,000
Park
adjacent West Fairmount Park, providing an inviting place for
everyday activity and community-based programming. (RCC site)
PHILADELPHIA / CHERRY STREET PIER

From vacant pier to buzzing arts haven. Cherry Street Pier
houses 14 artist studios, interactive installations, and an outdoor Citywide
2018 $6,000,000
restaurant and bar within a historic pier structure on the Destination
Delaware River Waterfront — a unique space for the public to
interact with artists and makers.
PHILADELPHIA / THE DISCOVERY CENTER

From fenced-off reservoir to nature oasis. The Discovery
Center sits at the edge of a long-shuttered reservoir. Philadelphia Nature
$18,122,000
Parks and Recreation leases the 57 acres to Philadelphia Space 2018
Outward Bound School and National Audubon Society, which
operate outdoor programming. (RCC site)
SAN JOSE / MOMENT

From parking bays to one-of-a-kind downtown retail. Once a
parking garage facade, MOMENT is now a creative hub on San Citywide
2018 $780,000
Pedro Square. The project provides affordable retail space to Destination
local makers, diversifies downtown amenities, and adds to the
Square’s public life.
1. Indicates the project received funding as part of Reimagining the Civic Commons. For more on Reimagining the Civic Commons, visit page 12.
2. Total cost of all projects is not necessarily equal to total funding for all projects, as some funds went toward wider area improvements and ongoing operations.

Projects provided safe venues for solo
and social activity during the pandemic —
adapting design and programming to continue
offering vital community spaces.
to help finance its public space projects built a local sense of issues around inclusion and
projects. “We’re developing them ownership — inspiring locals to trust in communities of color;
in such a way that we can have organize unofficial programming, ensuring projects lead to equitable
a reliable source of income and from picnics with the grandparents community development; and
rent,” says Lizzie Woods, DRWC to hula hoop troupes, throughout creating sustainable operating
Vice President of Planning and the pandemic. models that balance revenue
Capital Programs. generation with a consistent focus
Projects also took advantage of on mission.
— their flexible design to test new
COVID-19 programming. MOMENT hosted To build on successes and
outdoor community workshops overcome these challenges,
Attention to resident-centered with tenants as part of an open the conclusion of this report
and flexible spaces helped streets program. The Riverfront summarizes considerations for
projects adapt during the leveraged the popularity and size Knight, other funders, and the
pandemic and provide safe of the Freight Yard to hold open- wider field, including:
venues for solo and social activity. air live music with enough room
While the pandemic disrupted for distancing. Cherry Street —
public life, two sites — Detroit Pier’s outdoor restaurant and bar To address challenges related
Riverfront and Cherry Street Pier became a popular hangout, helping to physical connectivity, invest
— observed increases in foot traffic drive many artists’ sales during the in design changes that improve
compared to the previous year. pandemic — with a third of artists access to the site.
Cherry Street Pier experienced financing their studio rent from on-
a more-than-threefold increase site sales alone, up from 15 percent —
in foot traffic between November the previous year. To address challenges around
2019 and November 2020. inclusion and trust among
Conclusion communities of color, expand
Neighborhood spaces were also support of local organizations
resilient, as a greater proportion Expanding the scope of funding and fund ongoing community
of residents surveyed near Ella beyond shovels in the ground laid participation efforts.
Fitzgerald Park and Centennial the groundwork for public spaces
Commons (followed closely by that reflect local communities and —
the Riverfront) reported visiting respond to changing conditions. To proactively manage resident
the parks more frequently than Many projects’ ability to adapt and concerns around displacement,
residents near other sites during continue attracting visitors during tie public space investments to
the pandemic. For example, 58 the pandemic cemented this broader community development
percent of Ella Fitzgerald Park strong foundation. processes.
respondents said they visit the
park as often as or more frequently Despite this, projects face —
than before, compared to a cross- challenges. Challenges most To create sustainable operating
project average of 37 percent. The often are related to: planning models, fund innovative new
robust community engagement around site-specific barriers to paradigms that diversify revenue
processes that shaped these access; addressing perceptual sources.

—
Overall, to help project leaders
think more boldly and address
challenges to their work, create
opportunities for cross-project
knowledge exchange.
—
For those committed to ensuring
public spaces meet resident needs
and drive equitable community
development, the lessons in this
report serve as a guide.
Many thoughtful planners,

designers, and community leaders
know that more inclusive and
responsive approaches are vital.
Putting these approaches to
work can be more challenging. By
revealing successful strategies
and tactics, the projects in this
report point the way toward more
inclusive and adaptive methods
in public space planning — in the
pandemic and beyond.
What's more, these findings

demonstrate how thoughtfully
developed public spaces can spark
larger community change — by
helping residents re-envision and
embrace their neighborhoods,
building capacity of local
organizations, and spurring
additional investment in the area.
From small neighborhood parks to
landmark waterfront sites, public
spaces are a strong foundation
for more positive and equitable
community development.

OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC SPACES STUDIED
T
he projects studied in from Knight, the seven projects people together, by revitalizing
this impact assessment raised over $50 million in co- and connecting public spaces
ranged widely: funding and follow-on funding from and countering the economic and
neighborhood parks other sources. social fragmentation that are all
that gave residents a go-to too common.
gathering spot; nature spaces that Four of the seven sites — Summit
re-engaged their communities Lake Park, Ella Fitzgerald Park, To guide readers, the coming pages
with the outdoors; and citywide Centennial Commons, and The include brief overviews of each
destinations that offered art Discovery Center — received project.
studios, beachscapes, and more. funding from Reimagining the Civic
Commons (RCC). RCC is a funder
These projects represent diverse collaborative comprised of The JPB
public space investments, and were Foundation, Knight Foundation,
opened between 2018 and 2019. The Kresge Foundation, The
They represent over $5 million in Rockefeller Foundation, and
investment within Knight's broader William Penn Foundation. The
public space portfolio, which has Miami Foundation serves as fiscal
issued 180 grants in 26 cities since sponsor. A national initiative piloted
2015. In addition to their grants in Philadelphia, RCC seeks to bring
AKRON, OHIO
PHOTOS: KNIGHT FOUNDATION

Summit Lake Park
From environmental liability to
beloved lakeside park. Summit
Lake Park provides ample seating
and shelter, barbecues, trail
connections, and recreational
programming on the shores of
a lake that was once seen as an
environmental hazard.
—
YEAR OPENED / 2018
TYPE / Nature Space
WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Inclusive

engagement process, capital construction,
and programming for the space
Note: This project received RCC funding.
BEFORE

DETROIT, MICHIGAN
PHOTOS: GOOGLE STREET VIEW (BEFORE); COURTESY OF SPACKMAN MOSSOP MICHAELS (AFTER)
Ella Fitzgerald Park
From 26 vacant lots to a
neighborhood living room. Ella
Fitzgerald Park is the first project
in a broader neighborhood
planning process. It provides
public art, recreational space, and
an educational and workforce
development program for local
youth and transitional workers.
—
YEAR OPENED / 2018
TYPE / Neighborhood Park
WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Development of

first public park in Fitzgerald neighborhood,
including: capital dollars; funds for ongoing
programming through 2022; and a workforce
development program that maintains the site
and helped prepare it for construction
BEFORE
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
PHOTOS: GOOGLE STREET VIEW (BEFORE); FELICIA FULWOOD (AFTER)

Detroit Riverfront
From an aging industrial area to
a multi-use urban destination.
The Riverfront includes the Freight
Yard, a stop on the Dequindre
Cut greenway that houses a beer
and wine garden, and Valade
Park, home to a beachscape,
floating barge, and two local food
businesses.
—
YEAR OPENED / 2018 (Dequindre Cut Freight
Yard); 2019 (Valade Park)
TYPE / Citywide Destination (Riverfront Park)
WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Development

of Freight Yard — a pop-up market on
Dequindre Cut, a former industrial rail line
turned pedestrian greenway that connects
the Riverfront to Eastern Market; Activation
of Valade Park — a strategic location on the
Detroit RiverWalk
Note: Knight also invested in the 2004 capital

campaign for the wider Riverfront. BEFORE

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
PHOTOS: GOOGLE STREET VIEW (BEFORE); ALBERT YEE (AFTER)

Centennial
Commons
From no-man’s land to parkside
gateway. Centennial Commons
bridges the gap between the
Parkside neighborhood and
adjacent West Fairmount Park,
providing an inviting place for
everyday activity and community-
based programming.
—
YEAR OPENED / 2018
TYPE / Neighborhood Park
WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Capital

improvements to Centennial Commons and
programming support for local organizations
(e.g., Centennial Parkside CDC)
BEFORE
PHOTOS: GOOGLE STREET VIEW (BEFORE); DELAWARE RIVER WATERFRONT CORPORATION (AFTER)
Cherry Street Pier
From vacant pier to buzzing
arts haven. Cherry Street Pier
houses 14 artist studios, interactive
installations, and an outdoor
restaurant and bar within a historic
pier structure on the Delaware
River Waterfront — a unique space
for the public to interact with
artists and makers.
—
YEAR OPENED / 2018
TYPE / Citywide Destination (Arts Space)
WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Development

of a public space that connects a growing
community of artists, makers, and
entrepreneurs by repurposing a historic pier
on the Delaware River waterfront
BEFORE

PHOTOS: GOOGLE STREET VIEW (BEFORE); HALKIN MASON PHOTOGRAPHY AND DIGSAU (AFTER)
The Discovery
Center
From fenced-off reservoir to
nature oasis. The Discovery Center
sits at the edge of a long-shuttered
reservoir. Philadelphia Parks and
Recreation leases the 57 acres
to Philadelphia Outward Bound
School and National Audubon
Society, who operate outdoor
programming.
—
YEAR OPENED / 2018
TYPE / Nature Space
WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Design and

construction; Resident-driven activation
BEFORE
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
PHOTOS: GOOGLE STREET VIEW (BEFORE); SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIAITION (AFTER)
MOMENT
From parking bays to one-of-a-
kind downtown retail. Once a
parking garage facade, MOMENT
is now a creative hub on San Pedro
Square. The project provides
affordable retail space to local
makers, diversifies downtown
amenities, and adds to the Square’s
public life.
—
YEAR OPENED / 2018
TYPE / Citywide Destination (Micro-Retail

Space)
WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Transformation of

a parking garage ground floor into micro-
retail units, opposite San Pedro Square
market; Follow-on funding also supported
construction of the parklet outside the
storefronts
BEFORE

2020
From the COVID-19 pandemic to the
racial justice movement, how did public
spaces navigate the challenges and
IN FOCUS dynamics of a year like no other?
Local spaces are weathering disruptions to public life,

as people seek outlets for physical and mental health.
While distancing measures and stay-at-
home orders have kept many residents
at home, respondents continued to seek 14 percent of people seek a
out public spaces — whether to maintain place to exercise outdoors 54 percent of
a routine, or to sustain their physical or respondents indicated
Across the board, staying home more
mental health. 6 percent visit to throughout the pandemic
promote mental
health; people visit
Three sites in particular — Ella Fitzgerald neighborhood parks
Park, Centennial Commons, and Detroit for this reason at an
even higher rate
Riverfront — had an above-average (14 percent)
share of respondents who reported
visiting these spaces more or the
same amount. Ella Fitzgerald Park
and Centennial Commons represent
essential neighborhood spaces,
while Detroit Riverfront represents a
citywide destination with ample outdoor
programming.
How has your use of
this space changed
during COVID-19?
Survey Respondents Visiting Public
Spaces the Same Amount or More
58%
49% 50%
Visiting these spaces is

routine for 30 percent
of respondents who’ve
maintained or increased
their visitorship 25 percent of
respondents are
avoiding public spaces to
37% avoid crowded places
CROSS-PROJECT AVERAGE
Why did people say they Why did people say they
CENTENNIAL COMMONS
ELLA FITZGERALD PARK
visit the same or more often? visit less often?

DETROIT RIVERFRONT
— —
Nature-centric projects offer visitors the Fear of crowds dissuades people from
greatest sense of safety in their visits — visiting citywide destinations, but is a
providing wide open spaces for social far less significant factor for not visiting
distancing outdoors. Neighborhood parks nature-based sites. Higher rates of people
were more embedded in respondents' daily aren’t visiting nature sites because they
routines. These spaces also help visitors don’t pass by or are avoiding public transit,
recharge their mental health at higher indicating these sites may be out of the way
rates than the other project types. from locals’ routines.

Many destinations have benefited from pandemic-
friendly programming and a rise in drop-in visitors.
Many project leaders cited observational data that
signals progress in making their spaces safe and
Average Daily Foot Traffic, inviting.
Cherry Street Pier
At Cherry Street Pier, project leaders and artists
cite the success of new drop-in visitors and the
on-site outdoor restaurant and bar. Through a
reservation system and temperature checks at the
entrance, it has become a safe outdoor destination.
5,508 The project saw a more than threefold jump in

foot traffic from November 2019 to November
visitors 2020 — based on the site’s 2019 counts and Gehl

observational data.
“During COVID-19, people were stir-crazy,” says

artist-in-residence Jim Abbott. “Bringing their
1,272 families down, their dogs, their bikes, exercise
visitors classes and coaches. The area is on the map.”
PHOTO: GEHL
NOV 2019 NOV 2020 This rise in pandemic-era foot traffic — along with
the site’s maturity and growing public awareness
— have paid off for many artists; 33 percent of the
latest cohort have been able to pay rent based on
their on-site sales, compared to 15 percent in the
PHOTO: DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY
Pier’s first cohort.
MOMENT tenants also saw a rise in drop-ins as

they held DIY workshops as part of an open streets
program. “Just by having people outside, it got
people passing by curious, and brought them into
the store,” says tenant Alyssarhaye Graciano.
At Detroit Riverfront, 2019 visitorship metrics were

matched in half the time. During the 2020 summer
months at Detroit Riverfront, this was especially
true — more than 200,000 people moved through
the Dequindre Cut in August alone. The site’s beer
and wine garden — about the size of a football field
— also become one of the safer spots in the city for
people to relax with a drink, seeing an 11 percent
increase in daily revenue from the 2019 to 2020
PHOTO: INPIXIO
season.
Local food vendors at Valade Park also remained

active, and 78 percent of Instagram content tagged
at the park documented food or promotions they
generated. “Even in the middle of the pandemic
when we moved in August, it was one of the busiest
times we had,” said Gregory “JB” Sims, owner of
Smokey G’s Smokehouse.
Says Rachel Frierson, Detroit Riverfront

Conservancy Director of Programming, “Detroit felt
that emotional trauma that New York went through.
Through our programming and public spaces, we’re
The Detroit Riverfront’s large-scale and flexible Freight Yard (top) and Valade trying to focus on how we can be there for people
Park businesses (bottom) were especially active during the summer months. during these times.”

Locals have taken the spaces into their own hands,
organizing DIY programming from a safe distance.
Providing a vital form of social
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BERNADETTE KING

infrastructure to the neighborhoods
they serve, these spaces offered a
canvas for residents to craft their own
programming.
“People would come down and see

grandparents with their grandchildren,
and sit under the shelter and play games
or cards,” says Summit Lake resident
Grace Hudson. “People are still having
birthday parties and family gatherings.
COVID-19 slowed things down ... but
people were still using the space.”
At the Detroit Riverfront, this meant the

addition of spontaneous, resident-led
yoga and flamenco classes.
At Ella Fitzgerald Park, a local hula hoop

troupe that meets weekly didn’t let the
pandemic stop them — thanks to hula
hoops’ built-in distancing function (right,
pictured before the COVID-19 pandemic).
Ella Fitzgerald Park’s hula hoop troupe continued meeting during the pandemic.
The pandemic has compelled leaders to double down on

their mission and continue meeting resident needs.
The extensive engagement processes
PHOTO: TASHIA RAYON
that shaped these projects continue to

serve their communities in the pandemic.
In this time of crisis, project leaders
have leveraged resident trust to ensure
pandemic-era responses address
project missions and community needs.
In East Parkside, the location of

Centennial Commons, the community
has looked to Centennial Parkside CDC
as a convener throughout the pandemic,
a testament to their rise as a vital
community organization. What’s more,
the CDC has necessarily deprioritized
formal programming in the space, as it
meets more critical community needs
like food and housing security.
Cherry Street Pier also deprioritized

large events for health reasons,
refocusing on artists’ public engagement
(such as a Dia de Los Muertos mural-
painting workshop), and supporting
displaced local businesses with vendor
Centennial Parkside CDC launched a food share program to tackle area food insecurity.
spots at its artisan markets.

Project leaders are reckoning with how to make Black
visitors feel safe in public space.
In light of protests in support of racial We want to explore how the space can had an opportunity to host the training
justice and heightened awareness of continue to feel safe for this group in the and it was a great way to show folks
police violence, projects are working to long term,” says CDC Program Director the park,” says Philadelphia Outward
ensure that Black and Brown residents Tashia Rayon. Bound School Community Engagement
feel welcome, safe and supported within Manager Izzy Nelson. “That it was a
these public places. Centennial Parkside The Discovery Center is also exploring place where they could get away from
CDC is thoughtfully engaging on this how to safely engage Strawberry the neighborhood, to come here and
by leading programming specifically Mansion’s Black community — in light reflect … to find a sense of healing, to
to engage Black men amid unrest over of increased gun violence and a history clear their minds. That became one of
policing: “It’s put a thumb on young of disinvestment. Its 2020 training on the ways we demonstrated the value of
people’s safety — particularly Black men. gunshot wound first-aid was a start: “We the center for community members.”
Public spaces provided a platform for civic expression

in support of the movement for racial justice.
Across the nation, and world, people
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM; NOTE: FACE HAS BEEN BLURRED OUT FOR PRIVACY
have taken to the streets in support of
the movement for racial justice — and
these values show up in public space,
which serve as vehicles for political
expression.
At the Detroit Riverfront’s Dequindre

Cut (right), an analysis of geo-tagged
Instagram content showcases how
residents express their support of racial
justice on the space — through the
creation and documentation of public
art as well as the shared experiences of
Black activists and advocates who spend
time there.
At Cherry Street Pier, resident artists

used their studio windows as a canvas
for making visible their support of racial
justice and fellow Black artists. Acori
Honzo, artist-in-residence, describes
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM
an act of solidarity from a neighboring
White artist: “I walked in one day, and
there’s a Black Lives Matter sign hanging
in Jim’s window. It wasn’t prompted,
nobody made him do it. I’m used to
walking around and wondering if I’m
scary, how I’m being perceived,” he says.
“And if I can work in an environment
and see that hanging in the window and
it’s not the Black shop … I couldn’t be
prouder to work here.”

Everyday
Public Space
How do design and

programming shape visitors’
use of and engagement with
the space?
PHOTO: KNIGHT FOUNDATION

SUMMIT LAKE PARK / AKRON, OHIO

Everyone
deserves a
high-quality
public realm.
ALEXA BUSH
DESIGN DIRECTOR
CITY OF DETROIT

IN BRIEF / EVERYDAY PUBLIC SPACE
Projects that supported

quality design, resident-
centered programming,
historic character, and the
arts invited regular activity.
What’s Working What’s Challenging
Projects that made sure quality design Projects with barriers to physical
resonated with the community saw connectivity beyond site boundaries faced
especially high resident visitorship and challenges in promoting access.
enthusiasm.
Presence of semi-public activity compelled
Projects that committed to locally oriented project leaders to explore how they could
events and programming attracted make their spaces inviting to all.
residents.
Adapting existing infrastructure — a
sustainable approach to construction —
drove residents to visit these spaces in
ways they would have never done before.
Integrating arts and creativity into design
and programming led to more diverse
resident engagement and civic expression.

FINDINGS / EVERYDAY PUBLIC SPACE
What’s Working local artist Hubert Massey and —

fired at a local ceramics studio. Projects that committed to locally
— A street-crossing songbook oriented events and programming
Projects that made sure quality graphic helps calm traffic and attracted residents.
design resonated with the serves as a nod to Ella Fitzgerald,
community saw especially the namesake of a one-time Project leaders made it clear
high resident visitorship and neighborhood school. The site through locally oriented
enthusiasm. also includes draws like a popular programming and events that the
basketball court and playspace. space was there for residents to
Across the board, 81 percent of Says youth ambassador Chanale embrace.
survey respondents feel positively Greer, “I’m most proud of the
about these projects — each of diversity of activity that the park Both Centennial Commons and
which has transformed their brings. I see people doing so many Summit Lake Park have hosted
contexts and communities in things that usually you only see events like nutrition and cooking
different ways. In the most downtown.” lessons alongside fresh food
successful cases, the look, feel, and markets. This type of programming
definition of quality was driven by Centennial Commons and Ella was important to drawing in locals
the local context and community — Fitzgerald Park — multifunctional and meeting their needs.
quality is not a monolith, but looks neighborhood spaces that reflect
different from place to place. local character — had the highest “It’s been a long time since our
rates of regular visitorship among neighbors have seen consistent
At Centennial Commons survey respondents, with 54 activity that is inclusive,” says
in Philadelphia, that meant percent visiting both spaces at Tashia Rayon, Centennial Parkside
abandoning early ideas for a high- least weekly. CDC Program Director. “Events like
design playspace — instead opting the Healthy Edge Fresh Food Fest
for a functional park that could The two sites are followed by open up our public space and allow
connect local Parkside residents Akron’s Summit Lake Park, where time for activity, conversation,
to West Fairmount Park. Survey 42 percent of visitors visit at and most importantly trust-
results indicate the investments in least weekly — slightly above an building within the community
connectivity helped — 64 percent average of 37 percent across all we serve.” Over 2,500 residents
of respondents found the space projects studied. Locals there have attended events in Centennial
“very easy” to access — compared take advantage of picnic tables, Commons since 2018.
to a cross-project average of 54 barbecues, and swings for events
percent. The park’s porch swings from birthday parties to picnics. The Discovery Center also evolved
give a nod to local architecture, But it’s also become a place of its programming beyond traditional
and are now a spot for after-school calm, too: “I can sit on a swing and birding and outdoor adventures.
snacks and Bible study alike. see the sunset and birds flying For example, partners held a
across — that’s a vacation view we workshop on gun violence first-aid
Detroit’s Ella Fitzgerald Park have now,” says Sandy Saulsberry, for community members, given the
includes mosaic tiles designed by a Summit Lake resident. challenges of gun violence in the

QUALITY / Projects leveraged quality, locally oriented design to draw everyday activity.

Riverfront’s Valade Park offers an urban beachscape. Summit Lake’s barbecues, tables, and seating invite people to the shore.
PHOTO: BREE GANT
PHOTO: CHERRY STREET PIER

Ella Fitzgerald Park’s basketball court is a popular local draw. Cherry Street Pier's informal artist studios draw in passersby.
PHOTO: GENSLER
PHOTO: GEHL
Centennial Commons’ porch swings
MOMENT’s active facade brings people to the other side of San Jose’s San Pedro Square. echo the area’s historic architecture.
Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. According to Izzy Nelson, POBS visit these spaces in new ways.
Other community-responsive Community Engagement Manager
events have included line dancing, and a longtime resident of the At Detroit Riverfront, a one-time
mommy-and-me workshops, and neighborhood, “The more we were industrial area, “people didn’t
nature walks for local Black men. consistent in taking folks’ ideas … think anyone would come down
That was what built the trust and there,” says Rachel Frierson,
Some events draw big crowds; the foundation to then have people Director of Programming at the
a 2018 event focused on engaged and visiting.” Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.
“Inclusion, Equity & Environmental “We were fighting the perception
Gentrification” drew over 300 — of the Riverfront being a place for
people. More everyday events, like Adapting existing infrastructure people.”
Discovery Days — an outdoors day — a sustainable approach to
— draw about 50 visitors. construction — drove residents to Now the Riverfront is a popular

regional destination. Indeed, in area. “I’ve seen a huge evolution
September, a peak month, the of people who walk toward the “Downtown San Jose is not known
Riverfront’s Valade Park saw an river. Nobody lived down here and for anything other than going to
average of 10,164 people per day, nobody came down,” says Jim bars, a Sharks game, or work,” says
and its Dequindre Cut saw an Abbott, artist-in-residence. Angie Chua, a former MOMENT
average of 3,000 people visiting tenant. “I held a workshop every
per day, according to on-site MOMENT, too, invites visitors other week and brought other
sensor data. to San Pedro Square to engage makers in … including in the
with the space in new ways. By evening, just as a way to activate
The reimagined site now draws activating what was once a parking the space and bring new people in.”
people from within and beyond the garage facade that interrupted
city who might otherwise head to street life, MOMENT adds to area Observational data also shows
state parks outside city limits for a vibrancy — with retail amenities that MOMENT invites a more
dose of nature. Indeed, along with and public parklet seating for diverse visitorship than the rest
Philadelphia’s Cherry Street Pier, passersby and shoppers. of San Pedro Square — attracting
it attracts more regional visitors more seniors and children, and a
than any other project studied, — more even split between male and
according to survey data and Integrating arts and creativity into female visitors.
analysis of social media content design and programming led to
at the site. “People are now seeing more diverse resident engagement Cherry Street Pier — an arts-
the Riverfront as a nature space and civic expression. focused project on Philadelphia’s
within the city,” says Elena Newnell, Delaware River Waterfront
a volunteer. MOMENT is helping imbue — didn’t look to a high-design
creativity into the downtown area museum for inspiration. Project
Cherry Street Pier also saw a — such as through tenant-led DIY leaders knew the space had to feel
transformation in how residents workshops, some of which have different from a typical museum
engaged with the Delaware River continued in the pandemic as part or gallery in order to attract
waterfront, a once-neglected of an open streets program. the wider public. Retaining the
unvarnished look of the historic
pier and installing artist studios in
PHOTO: PORTSIDE ARTS CENTER
shipping containers helped ground

the space and drive engagement.
“Fine art spaces push people away,”
says artist-in-residence Sharif
Pendleton. “The space here is not
super polished, so people are more
willing to get engaged.”
This approachability shows up

online. The project had the most
active Instagram usership, with
posts highlighting art, architecture,
and interactive events. Murals at
Detroit Riverfront’s Dequindre
Cut were also a place for artistic
self-expression online. The art was
among the most popular content in
the site’s Instagram activity — with
many highlighting the movement
for racial justice.
Cherry Street Pier hosts events like this Dia de Los Muertos mural-making session.

CONNECTIVITY / Sites faced barriers to visitor access beyond their boundaries.
PHOTOS: GEHL
PHOTO: GEHL
Cherry Street Pier is separated from Old City by a major roadway; Centennial Commons’ bike share and street crossings are a first
Summit include
connections Lake’san unwieldy pedestrian overpass. step in improving connectivity to Fairmount Park.
approach changed
PHOTO: GEHL

city leaders’ approach
to community
development.
The area around The Discovery Center could Located below grade, Dequindre Cut’s Freight Yard faces visibility issues that have
benefit from improved walkability to the site. deterred some pop-ups from posting up at the site.
What’s Challenging deterred pop-ups and food trucks the community can get there," says
from posting up at the spaces, Tonnetta Graham, President of
— and often leaves visitors asking Strawberry Mansion CDC, a local
Projects with barriers to for more wayfinding, according to community organization.
physical connectivity beyond site volunteers.
boundaries faced challenges in Moving forward, The Discovery
promoting access. The Detroit Riverfront Center is exploring how to better
Conservancy has responded connect to the surrounding
through programming to introduce neighborhood — through physical
Projects varied in their level
more Detroiters to its spaces, interventions like improved walking
of connectivity beyond site
and upcoming investments to trails and signage, as well as
boundaries — hampered by basic
address connectivity challenges. programmatic interventions like
walkability issues, unfavorable
The Dequindre Cut will eventually neighborhood block parties and
positioning, and unwieldy integrate into a 26-mile trail under street-corner birdhouses that
infrastructure barriers. Many development by the City, which will invite locals to visit the space.
of these challenges were out improve access and visibility to
of project leaders' control and multiple neighborhoods. At Cherry Street Pier, decades-old
site purview, but represented infrastructure inhibits walkable
challenges to access nonetheless. The Discovery Center is a serene access. The site is separated
retreat at the edge of a one- from Philadelphia’s Old City by a
Some projects face connectivity time reservoir, but slightly uphill major roadway, making the Pier
challenges inherent to their from the core of its Strawberry feel more like a destination than
physical positioning. The Freight Mansion neighborhood. For an everyday amenity that can be
Yard at the Detroit Riverfront sits locals, the space can feel tucked easily accessed. “Like many cities
below-grade, for example, giving it away. "If you’re thinking about the we foolishly built an 8 to 12-lane
a hidden gem quality. This dynamic community, you want to make sure highway cutting off our hub of

commerce and connection,” says its neighboring Race Street Pier —
Patrick Morgan, the city’s First an open-air park. Project leaders'
Deputy Commissioner of Parks & efforts to invite in more users
Recreation. To overcome these through enhanced walkability,
challenges, The Delaware River wayfinding, and programming may
Waterfront Conservancy is now help capture some of the activity
developing a $20 million multi- on adjacent Race Street Pier — a
modal trail to connect its sites, and space that could seem more public
transit wayfinding to connect the to passersby.
Pier to the Old City.
For Detroit Riverfront, business
Centennial Commons confronted owners are also working to make
connectivity issues early on, clear their spaces are publicly
by investing in traffic calming accessible. According to Gregory
measures and pedestrian "JB" Sims, owner of Smokey G's
connectivity with the adjacent Smokehouse in Valade Park, "I
Parkside neighborhood; the project have a lot of people who pass by
also secured an Indego bike station and say, 'I thought you guys were
on-site. Survey results indicate cooking for a private event.' Some
the investments are improving people just didn’t know we were
perceived access — 64 percent of open to the public," Sims says.
Centennial Commons respondents He's exploring signage and other
found the space “very easy” to tactics to invite the public into his
access — compared to a cross- Riverfront business.
project average of 54 percent.
Local leaders are continuing to San Jose's MOMENT is a micro-
invest in connectivity, through retail concept and located in a
an emerging mobility study and downtown commercial district,
planning process for the area. which impacts the diversity of
activities that can take place there.
— Indeed, only 18 percent of seating
Presence of semi-public activity on adjacent San Pedro Square is
compelled project leaders to public, and two of the top three
explore how they could make their activities observed in the area
focused on commercial uses.
spaces inviting to all.
Even still, MOMENT operators
like SJ Made and its tenants are
Detroit Riverfront, Cherry Street
working to expand the invitations
Pier, and MOMENT each balanced
available to San Pedro Square
commercial activities with the
beyond shopping and dining. As
need to ensure their spaces were
the project has evolved, it has
inviting to all.
diversified activity to include more
public programming — such as
For example, Cherry Street Pier
tenant-led DIY workshops as
— while not a space dominated by
part of a COVID-19 open streets
private activity — is partly covered,
initiative.
is open during select hours,
and includes a popular garden
restaurant, which may signal it is
private. Observational data indicate
the potential impact of these
factors on the site's visitorship.
For example, in the 6pm hour,
Cherry Street Pier experienced
just two thirds of the foot traffic of

MOVING FORWARD / EVERYDAY PUBLIC SPACE
Consider ...
Quality matters — in design Raising the bar for public space design
and ensuring the design reflects
and materials, it shows
community needs and identity, rather
commitment and makes than imposing a design aesthetic
a space more inviting,
comfortable, and interesting.
Consistent programming Taking the time to understand how

community members want to use and
that meets local needs helps
activate a space
draw people into a place.
Arts and creativity can make Integrating locally relevant artistic

features and arts programming into the
public space a platform for life of the space
creativity and expression.
Transforming underutilized Looking to neglected spaces and

buildings as potential public space sites
spaces inspires locals to
rediscover what's nearby.
Attention to physical Funding a wayfinding and connectivity

strategy early on, as part of the design
connectivity makes for more process
lively, inclusive public spaces.
Semi-public and commercial Balancing revenue-generating activities

with creating an environment that is
activities add vitality, but clearly open to non-paying visitors
can deter from inclusiveness
without thoughtful outreach.
Residents at
the Center
How does the space reflect,

welcome, and empower those
who live in the community?
PHOTO: ALEXA BUSH

ELLA FITZGERALD PARK / DETROIT, MICHIGAN

It’s made
me so much
prouder to
live here.
GRACE HUDSON
RESIDENT
SUMMIT LAKE

IN BRIEF / RESIDENTS AT THE CENTER
Community participation
allowed project organizers
to build trust with
residents, which in turn
increased use and sense of
attachment to the spaces.
Projects that used piloting and other Projects continued to face barriers
responsive engagement methods to attracting and building attachment
experienced particularly high regularity among communities of color — especially
in resident visits, enthusiasm, and Black respondents — due to legacies of
attachment to place. disinvestment and distrust.
Projects that adopted community-based Citywide destinations faced challenges
governance structures built resident trust in building local resident awareness —
and drove visits. perhaps due to the outreach challenges
that come with their broader reach.

FINDINGS / RESIDENTS AT THE CENTER
What’s Working prototypes and pilot programming the project. What’s more, the space
to engage residents during the had the most diverse Instagram
— design process — pilots included usership of sites studied.
Projects that used piloting and a nature center as well as food
other responsive engagement nutrition programming, a service Testing out configurations and
that benefited community programming on site allowed
methods experienced particularly
members in material ways. “When residents to see their input being
high regularity in resident visits,
we talk about participation and integrated in near-real time. “We
enthusiasm, and attachment to
engagement in this project, we met saw the manifestation of this
place.
basic needs along the way,” says conversation bloom into actual
Demetrius Lambert-Falconer, Chief fruits of the conversation,” says
Many project leaders conducted of Community Engagement for Summit Lake resident Grace
pilots during their design process Summit Metro Parks. Hudson. “We saw things starting to
— a step that demonstrated
happen.”
commitment to the project, helpedAfter the project, 97 percent of
overcome longtime distrust, and respondents to a 2018 survey felt Ella Fitzgerald Park and Centennial
led to greater use of the spaces.the project had changed their Commons, which adopted similar
neighborhood for the better, up approaches, also saw the greatest
At Summit Lake Park — which used from 57 percent at the outset of
levels of regular visitorship,
enthusiasm, and attachment
PHOTO: ALEXA BUSH
among respondents to the survey

for this impact assessment. For
example, when asked if they could
live anywhere they wanted, 70
percent of Centennial Commons
respondents would choose to stay
in their neighborhood, followed
by 60 percent of Ella Fitzgerald
respondents — the highest rates of
all projects.
Ella Fitzgerald Park’s pilots helped

project leaders reach audiences
that typically didn’t show up at
community meetings. For the
Fitzgerald neighborhood, that
meant exercises like a pop-up bike
repair station that drew in local
youth. “So many kids came out of
Regular pop-ups near the future Ella Fitzgerald Park helped leaders reach more residents.
the woodwork for this,” says Alexa

Pilot events at Summit Lake Park met local needs by pairing a fresh food market with cooking lessons; the market continues today.
Bush, Design Director with the Reflects Detroit’s Chief Parks seeing ongoing changes to the
City of Detroit. “No one had said Planner Meagan Elliott, “The Ella Riverfront, guided by sensor data
this was a need at a meeting but Fitzgerald Park and neighborhood and the Conservancy’s ongoing
clearly we saw there was a huge planning process … has been engagement with visitors. “People
demand for bikes for kids in this critical to that trust re-building and watch design change all the time,”
neighborhood.” making sure we’re never showing says Rachel Frierson, Director
up unless we’re able to follow of Programming for the Detroit
For Bush, prototyping through.” Riverfront Conservancy. “People
demonstrated the City’s constantly ask us to help and add
commitment to the process after — things. They feel like they actually
decades of stagnation: “It was Projects that adopted community- have some say in designing these
our way of putting our stake in the based governance structures built spaces.”
sand. It changed how people saw resident trust and drove visits.
what we were doing.” At The Discovery Center in
Community participation helps Philadelphia, community
Now that the park has opened, drive engagement well beyond the representation shows up in clear
people have embraced it: 96 ribbon-cutting ceremony. roles: a third of the board is
percent of survey respondents allocated to community member
feel positively about the park — The Detroit Riverfront seats; a 15-member community
including 100 percent of Black Conservancy, for example, has a engagement committee helps
respondents, who reported feeling Community Advisory Team (CAT) gauge local needs; and Philadelphia
“strongly positive.” What’s more, that helps inform programming Outward Bound School (POBS)
89 percent of respondents in the and improvements to the site. “I and Audubon have dedicated staff
Fitzgerald neighborhood indicated credit the Conservancy for giving to shape and launch community-
they feel the neighborhood has us more voice than I expected,” centric programming.
changed for the better since the says CAT member Bob Hoey.
project opened, up from a baseline These positions and processes
of 34 percent. Visitors are now accustomed to help invite in more residents from

PHOTO: ALBERT YEE
The Discovery Center’s locally-oriented programming is helping overcome distrust and drive more resident engagement with the space.
the local Strawberry Mansion down the path of being a private "There needed to be more time
area. “It’s important for community space. It would have been a built in for the organizations to
members to see the committee disaster.” understand their histories here,
members and chairperson are and to unpack their barriers to
in place,” says Izzy Nelson, POBS What’s Challenging collaboration — to deal with that
Community Engagement Manager. before bringing in the community,"
“That I can be the middle person — says Demetrius Lambert-Falconer,
really helped.” Projects continued to face Chief of Community Engagement
barriers to attracting and building for Summit Metro Parks.
Guided by this outreach, the attachment among communities
Center’s extensive youth of color — especially Black But building trust takes more than
programming has made it popular respondents — due to legacies of a responsive and coordinated
among local youth — 40 percent disinvestment and distrust. engagement process. “As much
of the Center’s daily visitors are 24 community engagement as you
or younger, according to survey For many projects, building have, you can’t erase history,”
results. “It’s a more unified front trust among communities of says Bronlynn Thurman, Program
when we have young people color remains a challenge. After Officer at Akron’s GAR Foundation.
speaking up,” says Nelson. longtime disinvestment, many “There is a history of White people
residents don't always positively coming into a neighborhood and
According to Meg Wise, Executive view engagement with local changing it — and not for the
Director of POBS, Knight governments and institutions. better. … Building trust through
Foundation funding catalyzed community participation is a good
these shifts toward community At the outset of the process, some step, but I think that the fear is
representation: “If the Knight project leaders felt that more always going to be there.”
grant hadn’t come and forced coordination would have helped
the perspective on what a public project leadership understand This was especially true at nature
space is and what it needs to do, legacies of disinvestment and spaces, for example, where 45
the project would have continued interaction with communities. percent of Black respondents

agreed the space was “special environmental racism. connectivity within the waterfront
to me,” compared to 56 percent area and to the wider city through
of all respondents. By contrast, As The Discovery Center team wayfinding on public transit.
neighborhood parks like Ella tackles historic barriers to access
Fitzgerald Park and Centennial in environmental work, Cherry While these sites work through
Commons had especially favorable Street Pier is also tackling historic these challenges, some are
feedback from Black survey barriers to access in arts and starting to see signs of bridging
respondents — who were more culture. “People of color are not across racial lines. Acori Honzo,
likely to “strongly agree” that a sufficiently represented at Cherry artist-in-residence at Cherry Street
space was special to them. Street Pier, but that is true for Pier, has seen his studio become a
all arts and culture institutions platform for building awareness. “I
“[Local Black residents] don’t in Philadelphia," says Almaz had a view of this White-dominated
always feel encouraged because Crowe, the site’s Director of art world that wouldn’t get Black
they don’t feel outdoor spaces or Communications and Marketing. art ... [because of Cherry Street
environmental work have always Pier,] all of a sudden there’s a White
been for them,” says Izzy Nelson, To draw in communities of color, lady sitting on my couch and she's
POBS Community Engagement Cherry Street Pier ensures starting to ask me about my pieces
Manager at The Discovery Center. diversity in its artists-in-residence, and say, ‘We need this, because a
Over time, community-centered programming partners, market lot of us don’t know.’”
programming is starting to draw businesses, and food vendors.
in more locals to the project; The project is also seeking to Summit Lake resident Sandy
events include mommy-and- improve outreach to communities Saulsberry has seen this dialogue
me workshops and a talk on of color, and to improve physical at work, too, as events and trail
SURVEY / While most respondents agree neighborhood spaces “are special to me,”
challenges remain in building attachment among Black residents at nature spaces.
Neighborhood parks have the most

Neighborhood
enthusiasm from respondents

Parks
— with 70 percent indicating they

ALL RESPONDENTS
“strongly agree” or “agree” that the

space is “special to me.”
Destinations
Citywide
Spaces
Nature
At nature-related projects, Black

Neighborhood
respondents indicate ambivalence

Parks
toward the projects at higher rates

BLACK RESPONDENTS
On the other hand, at neighborhood

parks and citywide destinations,
Destinations
Citywide
Black respondents were more likely

to “strongly agree” that the space was
special to them.
Spaces
Nature
“Strongly agree” “Agree” “Neutral” “Disagree” “Strongly disagree”

connections draw in more people
from beyond the neighborhood.
“There are people who have never
had a conversation with a Black
woman in their community that
are stopping to talk with me and
finding out ‘wow, we have a lot in
common,’” she says.
—
Citywide destinations faced
challenges in building local
resident awareness — perhaps due
to the outreach challenges that
come with their broader reach.
Respondents for citywide draws

(such as Cherry Street Pier, Detroit
Riverfront, and MOMENT) were
more likely to say they didn't visit
these spaces because they didn't
know what they could do there, or
because they didn't know about the
place to begin with.
For example, the most common

reason that citywide destination
respondents cited for not visiting
the space was “I’m not sure what
to do at this place” (42 percent,
compared to 28 percent for
nature spaces, and 24 percent for
neighborhood parks). Citywide
destination respondents were also
more likely to cite "I haven't heard
of it" as a reason for not visiting (18
percent, compared to 8 percent for
neighborhood parks, and 6 percent
for nature spaces).
According to Sandi McIntosh

— a lifelong Detroit resident
and relatively new Riverfront
volunteer — “Only a year or
so ago did I find out what was
going on at the Riverfront and
Downtown. … Downtowners
know what’s happening, but it’s
the neighborhoods that need
exposure.”

MOVING FORWARD / RESIDENTS AT THE CENTER
Consider ...
Responding directly to local Using pilots as a way to demonstrate

commitment to the project, reach
needs can help overcome a wider audience, and gain rapid
longtime distrust, and lead to community feedback
higher rates of resident visits
and stewardship.
To ensure continued use, Building in governance for consistent

participation in the space after opening,
locals should be empowered rather than making community input a
to shape a public space well one-time event
after the ribbon cutting.
Successful engagement Aligning on past work, capacity, and

goals of each organization before
requires advance
showing up to the community with a
coordination, commitment, request for input
and accountability from the
agencies leading the process.
A single engagement process Pairing public space and engagement

with long-term policy and planning to
or public space will not erase
dismantle racist systems
enduring legacies of racism
toward communities of color.
Citywide destinations face Engaging underrepresented

neighborhoods through outreach or
challenges engaging all
local pop-ups
neighborhoods they reach.
Community
Ripple Effect
What broader impacts is the

space having on the community,
city, and beyond?
PHOTO: FAIRMOUNT PARK CONSERVANCY

THE DISCOVERY CENTER / PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

[The grant] was
the seed money
to get [the
project] off the
ground.
CHUCK HAMMERS
FORMER HEAD
PROPERTY-BASED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE

IN BRIEF / COMMUNITY RIPPLE EFFECT
Investments catalyzed funding

for innovative ideas, and led
to local capacity-building and
Initial investments helped catalyze co- Some projects are still working to scale
funding and follow-on funding necessary beyond proof-of-concept, due to larger
to activate and sustain these projects. barriers to adoption.
Public space investments catalyzed larger Investments in public spaces that were not
community development efforts by shifting paired with proactive policy, or planning
perceptions and symbolizing positive generated fear of displacement among
change was possible in these areas. some residents.
Funding local organizations built local
community development capacity,
ensuring resident-centered programming
and development.
Workforce development programs
sustained site maintenance and led to job
pathways for local residents.
Youth programs fostered local
stewardship — and built community pride.
Dedicated studios and storefronts
catalyzed small business growth.
Public space planning processes and
convenings inspired local leaders to take
on more innovative, resident-centric, and
collaborative approaches to their work.

FINDINGS / COMMUNITY RIPPLE EFFECT
What’s Working get [the project] off the ground,” Ella Fitzgerald Park has become
says Chuck Hammers, former the first investment in a $13 million
— head of the local Property-Based neighborhood improvement
Initial investments helped catalyze Improvement District in San Jose. plan — which includes a
co-funding and follow-on funding greenway, a commercial corridor
necessary to activate and sustain At Centennial Commons, Knight’s revitalization, and homeownership
these projects. $1 million capital investment pathways: “There are so many
through Reimagining the Civic structural problems this
Grantees valued Knight funding for Commons led to over $1.5 neighborhood faces that the
its commitment to catalyzing early- million in funding from the perception shifts caused by Ella
stage concepts and attracting Philadelphia Water Department Fitzgerald Park are helping with,”
co- and follow-on funders. Funding — for installation and ongoing says Alexa Bush, Design Director
commitments from Knight and maintenance of an on-site rain at the City of Detroit.
other funders helped many of these garden. More recently, the project
projects absorb risk, and build the received over $500,000 in follow- Summit Lake Park has experienced
buy-in and legitimacy needed to on funding for a second phase a similar dynamic. Says James
secure other funding sources. of work at the site, and for an Hardy, Akron’s Deputy Mayor for
employee to lead programming in Integrated Development: “It’s
Knight was an early investor in the West Fairmount Park. not just about high-quality public
Detroit Riverfront, donating $1.5 space,” he says. “It’s that the public
million to the project’s 2004 capital What’s more, grantees valued space becomes a platform for all
campaign. More recently, Knight Knight’s flexibility and collaborative these other conversations around
and the Kresge Foundation each approach to grantmaking, equity, community and economic
invested up to $150,000 in Detroit especially when Knight funded development, and housing.”
Riverfront's Freight Yard. For the early-stage concepts. “We never Building on the momentum of the
Riverfront’s Valade Park, Knight’s felt like we couldn’t walk up to Summit Lake investment, a $15.5
$225,700 investment in 2017 came them and be honest about what’s million vision plan is now underway
with over $900,000 in co-funding happening on the ground,” says in the area.
from other sources. In addition, Rachel Frierson of the Detroit
in 2018, the Valade Family made a Riverfront Conservancy. The Discovery Center is also
generous donation of $5 million, exploring how it can integrate
which supported construction and — with community development
operations at the park. Public space investments catalyzed efforts. Under Strawberry Mansion
larger community development CDC leadership, local community
MOMENT’s 2015 Knight Cities efforts by shifting perceptions and groups are exploring proactive
Challenge grant of $139,000 symbolizing positive change was measures — from stabilizing
funded a first-of-its kind retail possible in these areas. housing for longtime residents to
concept and led to over $600,000 envisioning a corridor that knits
in funding over the next four Each project’s impact has extended together The Discovery Center
years. “It was the seed money to beyond site boundaries. with other civic assets.

PHOTO: FAIRMOUNT PARK CONSERVANCY
Centennial Commons has
also built momentum for new
collaborations. For example, the
Fairmount Park Conservancy
and Centennial Parkside CDC are
exploring an area mobility study,
and deeper collaborations with
community groups and Fairmount
Park cultural institutions to drive
resident-centered development.
Together, these cases demonstrate

how public spaces can catalyze
neighborhood change, and
play a role in wider community
development efforts.
— Centennial Parkside CDC has become a neighborhood convener since its founding.
Funding local organizations built

local community development about investing in people and success in Ella Fitzgerald Park, the
capacity, ensuring resident- process — which is a challenge program’s approach has become
centered programming and because you can’t cut a ribbon a “template for how we increase
development. on it. It’s messy, it’s complicated,” workforce participation across all
says Morgan. “But in the long run, our parks projects,” says Meagan
Funding for Centennial Commons if we’re serious about this work Elliott, Detroit’s Chief Parks
and The Discovery Center being transformational, it’s the Planner.
helped elevate the profile of each work that needs to happen.”
area’s community development At Centennial Commons,
corporations. “Strawberry — Centennial Parkside CDC runs a
Mansion CDC and Centennial Workforce development programs workforce development program
Parkside CDC either didn’t exist sustained site maintenance and led to maintain the site. Since 2018,
or were very much in their to job pathways for local residents. the organization's Clean and Green
infancy when [Reimagining the Team has been contracted by the
Civic Commons] started, and Both Centennial Commons and Philadelphia Water Department
have almost been meteoric in Ella Fitzgerald Park embedded to maintain rain gardens on site
their rise,” says Patrick Morgan, workforce development into their — employing five residents and
First Deputy Commissioner of operational models. picking up 21,510 gallons of trash
Parks & Recreation for the City of from the area to date.
Philadelphia. Ella Fitzgerald Park partnered
with Greening of Detroit, a local The program has led to additional
For example, Centennial organization that hires workers contracts with the Philadelphia
Parkside CDC has: become a with barriers to employment, Commerce Department and
go-to leader in programming whether criminal records or lack of the Philadelphia Zoo to clean
Centennial Commons with local transportation. Greening of Detroit other parts of the neighborhood.
partners, developed a sustainable has provided career pathways This success has also enabled
maintenance model for the space, to 20 Fitzgerald neighborhood Centennial Parkside CDC to
and hired a program director residents to date. hire a director of sanitation and
and a director of sanitation and environmental programming,
environmental programming. With a 90 percent job placement who will be increasing their
rate, Greening of Detroit far capacity, growing cleaning
Investments in capacity-building outperforms the 35 percent services, connecting the program
lay the groundwork for community national average placement to other workforce development
transformation. “It’s very much rate for green jobs. Through its opportunities, and creating

PHOTO: OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY COALITION
Summit Lake Park’s youth ambassador program helps maintain the space and will continue for a second summer in 2021.
programs around litter prevention. permanent job placement. is critical to driving generational
impact. For example, Philadelphia
— “The youth ambassadors Outward Bound School has
Youth programs fostered program lit a fire in Chanale,” employed a young woman from
local stewardship — and built says Devon Buskin, Greening of the community, Izzy Nelson, to
community pride. Detroit Workforce Director, of serve as a community engagement
one ambassador. “She went on manager for The Discovery Center.
Many projects have also to advocate for coursework on Her work engaging her peers and
created opportunities for youth community engagement in her neighbors may be paying off: for
engagement and empowerment. school,” he says, adding that other example, whereas 100 percent of
alumni moved on to undergraduate survey respondents aged 18 to 24
In summer 2020, Summit Lake and master’s programs in forestry. felt that The Discovery Center is
piloted a youth ambassador essential to their neighborhood,
program for planting and To their peers, ambassadors just 71 percent of respondents over
landscaping, securing often serve as role models for 54 felt this way.
commitments from the whole community participation. “The
cohort to continue upkeep efforts youth ambassadors are the cool For some, the impact on youth
in summer 2021. kids in the neighborhood,” Buskin is more spontaneous. At Cherry
says. “If the cool kids are setting Street Pier, for example, artist-
Ella Fitzgerald Park also has a the tone that this is the thing to do, in-residence Keni Thomas
youth ambassadors program with then others follow. The impact is (Thomcat23) speaks of art’s power
Greening of Detroit. The program there. It’s authentic.” to inspire young people: “I’ve had
helps high school students secure mothers come in with their kid and
scholarships to study forestry at Bringing young people into say, 'This is what your drawing can
historically Black colleges, provides the process and giving them be,'” he says. “If you have a little
internships, and ultimately leads to responsibility as changemakers kid who looks like you and you can

show them your process, they can The platform helps them clarify What’s more, the pandemic seems
feel like Superman.” their goals — whether they evolve to have stimulated rather than
to a larger brick-and-mortar stymied business growth for
— presence, an online shop, or Cherry Street Pier artists, thanks
Dedicated studios and storefronts another model. "I was able to to increased foot traffic from
catalyzed small business growth. really understand what a scaleable drop-in visitors and attractions
business looks like," says Angie like the outdoor restaurant and
Small business development Chua, a former MOMENT tenant. bar. Instagram content reflects
is fundamental to the mission "If not I would be over a sewing this increased exposure. For
of both Cherry Street Pier and machine, working harder not example, 36 percent of sample
MOMENT — supporting artists smarter. This was a catalyst on posts in October shared art-centric
and entrepreneurs by boosting where I want this business to go." content, three times the share of
exposure and minimizing their posts (12 percent) that documented
operational headaches. Cherry Street Pier artist-in- social activity or landscape views
residence Sharif Pendleton from within the garden restaurant.
MOMENT has provided a platform agrees, noting how important it is
for local entrepreneurs — all to offload operations and public As visibility has grown and the
tenants have been minority- or relations to the Cherry Street Pier Pier has refined its approach to
women-owned businesses, with team: “The more hats you can put selecting and supporting artists,
all 10 run by women, and eight by in other places, the better," he says. so have artist sales. A third of the
women of color. They benefit from Other artists spoke of how the latest cohort have been able to pay
San Pedro Square foot traffic and Cherry Street Pier model — built rent based on their on-site sales,
a growing local following. “My on collaboration and engagement compared to 15 percent in the
reach has doubled in just a few with the public — gave them Pier’s first cohort.
weeks — that is something I’d have more room to exchange ideas,
to pay for,” says tenant Alyssarhaye evolve their craft, and focus on the —
Graciano. business side. Public space planning processes
and convenings inspired local
leaders to take on more innovative,
PHOTO: SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIAITON
resident-centric, and collaborative

approaches to their work.
Beyond their communities, these

projects also reshaped business
as usual in city government and
in public space planning. “[Ella
Fitzgerald Park] was the most
functional interdepartmental
process I’ve been a part of for the
last six years. It set a new standard
for how we collaborate internally,”
says Meagan Elliott, Detroit’s Chief
Parks Planner.
Beyond the scope of Centennial

Commons and The Discovery
Center, the work of Centennial
Parkside CDC and Strawberry
Mansion CDC are starting to
inspire a shift in the City of
Philadelphia’s approach to
community engagement. “We’re
trying to change the way we
Tenants make MOMENT storefronts their own, drawing in visitors from San Pedro Square.
do business and engage with

residents at scale, which is very minority- and women-owned Izzy Nelson, POBS Community
much informed by the lessons businesses. Project leaders also Engagement Manager. Ongoing
learned from these organizations,” developed a unique operating engagement efforts are helping
says Patrick Morgan, First model — working across city residents see the space is
Deputy Commissioner of Parks & government, the local downtown theirs to use. What's more, the
Recreation for Philadelphia. association, and curator SJ Made development process connected
to bring the project to life. local community groups with
Inspired by Cherry Street Pier, funders — laying the groundwork
Philadelphia’s Parks & Recreation The model of retrofitting a space for anti-displacement initiatives
department is also exploring a not originally designed for retail like a pilot program for local home
social entrepreneur-in-residence is still gaining traction. “It’s a big repair. “Through The Discovery
model for its vast network of undertaking for businesses to Center process, those connections
community and recreation centers. take on themselves vs. a curator remain,” says Tonnetta Graham,
or mediator [like SJ Made] to take President of Strawberry Mansion
For Akron’s Bronlynn Thurman, it on. Local small businesses don’t CDC.
this mindset shift speaks to the less have the same AAA rating,” says
quantifiable impact of philanthropy Kevin Biggers, SJ Made’s Chief Summit Lake Park has led to a
— its power to convene. “Even Strategist. “I know that there’s range of community investments,
more valuable than the money not a significant incentive for such as a $15.5 million vision plan
we give out is making those developers, either. They have to that is now underway in the area.
connections and helping grantees build these retail spaces per policy, The influx of funding has led to
think farther or wider than a but there’s no incentive for them to some displacement concerns.
“Whether we like it or not, change
certain approach,” she says. “When build them outside of the big box
is coming,” says resident Grace
developing communities, money is model. Nor is there a real incentive
to retrofit the spaces.” Hudson. “My main concern is that
important but it isn’t everything.”
in the process the people that are
The pandemic’s disruptive here don’t get displaced.”
Indeed, many project leaders were
able to build a knowledge base impact on retail may be shifting
perceptions of the model’s viability. Such anti-displacement measures
through learning across cities, in
San Jose Downtown Association may include property tax freezes
both structured and unstructured
has seen rising interest from local or homeownership pathways.
formats. “How do you quantify a
property owners to adopt micro- “We need to sit down and set
cocktail hour in Chicago where an agenda for getting ahead of
you learn and are inspired by retail in several area storefronts.
As the pandemic further disrupts displacement,” says Bronlynn
a lot of brilliant people?” says Thurman, Program Officer at GAR
Jennifer Mahar, Senior Director retail and drives residents to
Foundation. “The right players are
of Civic Initiatives at Philadelphia’s live more locally, micro-retail
there. We just need to empower
Fairmount Park Conservancy. may be gaining momentum as a
neighborhood leaders and be
“Those inspirations influence your path to improving public life and
honest with each other about
work months and years down supporting local entrepreneurs.
the risks of displacement.” Adds
the road. You can’t put a price on James Hardy, Akron’s Deputy
connections.” —
Mayor for Integrated Development
Investments in public spaces that
“It’s going to take proactive policy
were not paired with proactive
What’s Challenging engagement, policy, or planning
intervention."
generated fear of displacement
— among some residents.
Some projects are still working to
scale beyond proof-of-concept, due Some residents view new public
to larger barriers to adoption. spaces with caution. "Strawberry
Mansion is a heavily gentrified
MOMENT demonstrates how area. So when The Discovery
micro-retail can transform the Center came in, the space
amenity mix in a downtown to itself wasn't problematic, but
activate an area and support it symbolized something," says

MOVING FORWARD / COMMUNITY RIPPLE EFFECT
Consider ...
Funding organizations that Identifying and funding the local

organizations that can serve as
represent and are trusted by
community champions and co-
residents ensures spaces will operators of a space
be trusted and used by the
community.
Public spaces can serve as Creating workforce and youth

development programs that give
a highly effective venue for opportunities for local residents and
local workforce and youth transitional workers
development.
Entrepreneurs and small Exploring how public spaces can

accommodate artists, creatives, and
businesses benefit from the entrepreneurs at more affordable rates
exposure they gain in public than market-rate storefronts — and
spaces. engaging them in the design process
Innovative public space Building in funding opportunities to

scale beyond an initial proof-of-concept
models take time to gain site, to amplify the innovative concept
traction in the wider market.
Public space development Taking proactive measures to tie public

space design to larger community
must be paired with larger development efforts that prevent
planning and policy efforts, displacement (e.g., wealth-building)
in order to breed more
equitable and holistic
Sustaining in
the Long Run
How does the project sustain

operationally and financially
over time?
PHOTO: GEHL

CHERRY STREET PIER / PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

We have our
own little
army of
volunteers.
RACHEL FRIERSON
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING
DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY

IN BRIEF / SUSTAINING IN THE LONG RUN
Local stewardship, responsive

processes, and trusted operators
helped sites develop sustainable
operating models and adapt to
changing conditions.
Sites that invested in resident-centered Some sites balanced the realities of

engagement early on fostered stewardship needing revenue to be sustainable with the
and reduced maintenance costs. need to preserve their mission.
Responsiveness to community input, Complex local funding dynamics have
observations, and sensor data helped compelled some projects to explore more
operational teams adapt to changing sustainable revenue from methods like
conditions. value capture.
Trusted operators relieved mission-driven
studios and storefronts of traditional
operational challenges.

FINDINGS / SUSTAINING IN THE LONG RUN
What’s Working ensuring long-term maintenance. the neighborhood.
— Reflects Alexa Bush, Design The Detroit Riverfront also relies

Sites that invested in resident- Director for the City of Detroit, on a robust volunteer base for
centered engagement early on “The city was on the mend from maintenance and wayfinding. In
bankruptcy, so we created a 2019, 385 volunteers contributed
fostered stewardship and reduced
culture of people using the park 8,100 hours: “We have our own
maintenance costs.
as a way to keep eyes on the park little army of volunteers,” says
and keep it alive because the city Rachel Frierson of the Detroit
For many sites, cultivating
doesn’t do a lot otherwise. We Riverfront Conservancy.
stewardship has helped them realized that the park needs to
maintain and operate sites, despite sustain its own life.” At Centennial Commons, there’s
public sector budget constraints
value in bringing on residents
— in some cases, exacerbated by This resident-centered to lead maintenance (whether
COVID-19. stewardship approach is working. through volunteership or
A 2018 survey of park users local workforce development
Ella Fitzgerald Park embedded found 62 percent of respondents programs). “When residents see
co-creation and stewardship into reported participating in their neighbors working to keep
the design process as a way of stewardship or advocacy related to
the area clean, it creates a sense
of ownership and generally draws
PHOTO: DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVACY
less litter and vandalism,” says

Centennial Parkside CDC Executive
Director Chris Spahr. “It also builds
a sense of pride in the space as a
community-maintained space.”
—
Responsiveness to community
input, observations, and sensor
data helped operational teams
adapt to changing conditions.
Many projects have adapted their

approach to design, operations,
and programming based on their
on-the-ground experiences.
The Detroit Riverfront has

developed a knack for adapting
Riverfront volunteers lead programming, attend cleanups, and offer wayfinding assistance.
based on learnings on the ground.

PHOTO: MCM HOSPITALITY
Cherry Street Pier’s garden restaurant has become a reliable revenue source that helps the project ensure affordable rates for artists.
Operational improvements are Now, the team is especially focused operating model that eases their
in part guided by the Detroit on supporting artists, building experience. “Any struggles that we
Riverfront Conservancy’s extensive relationships with repeat partners had putting this space together
network of sensors on-site — in programming, and securing would have been times ten in a real
developed in partnership with the sustainable revenue sources from retail space,” says MOMENT tenant
University of Michigan and with venues like its outdoor restaurant Au Nguyen. Adds Kevin Biggers,
Knight Foundation funding. This and bar. Chief Strategist of SJ Made, the
helps the Conservancy uncover space’s operator and curator:
patterns in people moving, — “Day-to-day operations aren’t too
spending time in, and more Trusted operators relieved onerous … other types of pop-ups
recently, wearing masks, in the mission-driven studios and required a lot more daily upkeep.
space. storefronts of traditional What’s interesting about these
operational challenges. spaces is that the tenants, they
For Cherry Street Pier, the take over and run with it.”
pandemic actually presented an At MOMENT and Cherry Street
opportunity to re-focus after a Pier, trusted operators with Local entrepreneurs and creatives
high-octane period of working experience in creative retail and see this value, drawn to the
around the clock and on the fly the arts have helped shepherd affordability, size of the spaces, and
to accommodate event rentals tenants through their residencies. the exposure they get on lively San
and other programming. “We’d Pedro Square. SJ Made currently
been realizing we have to do less MOMENT's curator, SJ Made — a has a waitlist of almost 100 people
better rather than just trying to do collective of San Jose makers and looking to secure one of the four
everything,” says General Manager entrepreneurs — has been involved storefronts.
Sarah Eberle. “The pandemic was since the beginning of the project
a nice chance to step back and look design process. With tenants in Cherry Street Pier’s management
at what was important.” mind, it helped shape a design and team helps market and position

artist studios on site. Over time, and funding may help alleviate a nearby apartment complex
Pier management has learned how burdens on tenants and ensure under construction, and is now
to better support artists — such as their longer-term operational and building partnerships with a
by meeting with artists regularly to financial sustainability. local real estate developer and
connect them with commissioning, business improvement district.
programming, and marketing At its Freight Yard site, the Detroit For long-term sustainability, such
opportunities. They have also Riverfront Conservancy tempered revenue sources will be especially
refined their approach to curating its ambitions to incubate small important for the Riverfront, a
each cohort — selecting artists-in- businesses with the need for $200 million project that has a $2
residence who can thrive on the financial and operational longevity. million annual operating budget.
public engagement opportunities “Because it was below grade, The efforts to gain income from
available at the Pier. These lessons we didn’t count how difficult it value capture could help the
learned have helped the Pier to would be for vendors to thrive in project boost sustainability —
better fulfill its mission of elevating the space,” says Rachel Frierson, diversifying its funding beyond
local artists that engage the public Director of Programming. philanthropic sources, limited
with the arts. public funding, and its endowment.
After facing permitting,
Delaware River Waterfront
What’s Challenging coordination, and visibility
challenges, the site now houses Corporation (DRWC), which owns
a successful beer and wine Cherry Street Pier, is turning to
—
development of properties it owns
Some sites balanced the realities of garden, rather than an array of
while it looks toward a waterfront-
needing revenue to be sustainable pop-up shops. “The idea of Freight
Yard was to stop and pause and wide value capture agreement.
with the need to preserve their
enjoy these open spaces on the “We’re developing them in such
mission.
Dequindre Cut. That evolution of a way that we can have a reliable
the project is 100 percent there … source of income and rent,” says
Both Cherry Street Pier and the
but for spurring business, that’s Lizzie Woods, DRWC Vice President
Detroit Riverfront — citywide
not a huge aim of what we’re doing of Planning and Capital Programs.
destinations with complex
operating models — are working to right now,” says Frierson.
stay nimble as they seek long-term
sustainability. —
Complex local funding dynamics
Cherry Street Pier is committed have compelled some projects to
to ensuring affordability for its explore more sustainable revenue
artist tenants: “We try to operate from methods like value capture.
everything at a lower than market
rate, which is so great for the Public spaces pool funding
community and not so great for the from a complex network of
operating budget,” says General philanthropy, individual donors,
Manager Sarah Eberle. “But it’s a and tight public budgets. Some
choice we’re making, a conscious projects are working to diversify
choice.” beyond these sources so they are
better positioned for long-term
Even still, lease revenue from its sustainability.
outdoor restaurant and bar has
been a financial boon, especially Methods like value capture interest
during the COVID-19 pandemic as both Cherry Street Pier and the
visitors have flocked to socialize Riverfront as a way to diversify
outdoors there: “It’s helping funding and benefit financially from
support artists, the restaurant nearby development, but they are
is supporting us financially, and not in place just yet.
in better times that could be the
key to us sustaining,” says Eberle. The Riverfront attempted to
Indeed, additional revenue sources secure a cut of revenue from

MOVING FORWARD / SUSTAINING IN THE LONG RUN
Consider ...
Building community support Building a sense of ownership over

the project through consistent and
for projects increases sense
responsive engagement
of stewardship over time.
Volunteer networks can help Deploying volunteers for maintenance,

wayfinding, or events, and integrating
offset operational costs. They their insights into operations
succeed when they have a say
in the direction of the space.
Trusted operators and Enlisting seasoned curators to help

design and operate mission-driven
curators set up public spaces storefronts / studios
and tenants for success.
Public spaces require a Supporting operators in securing

consistent revenue streams (e.g., value
complex network of funding capture, commercial leases)
for long-term sustainability.
Project goals sometimes Staying true to the project’s mission,

but flexible on operations based on data
need to change based on and experiences from the ground
lessons from the ground.
Conclusion
Considerations for public space
funders, practitioners, and city and
community leaders

CONCLUSION
E
xpanding the scope design around these constraints. local organizations shepherd
of funding beyond More proactive wayfinding or the public space and signal to
shovels in the ground walkability planning would have residents that it is theirs to use and
laid the groundwork helped Cherry Street Pier and the embrace.
for public spaces that reflect Detroit Riverfront improve resident
local communities and respond access. Centennial Commons, Inclusive engagement methods
to changing conditions. Many by contrast, incorporated traffic that fostered participation during
projects’ ability to adapt and calming into the project to invite the design process were also
continue attracting visitors during residents to the site. Survey results crucial to building this resident
the pandemic cemented this indicate the investments are attachment among communities
strong foundation. improving perceived access: 64 of color. Projects that adopted
percent of Centennial Commons pilot processes, for example,
Despite this, projects face respondents found the space used quick-to-install projects to
challenges. Challenges most “very easy” to access, compared respond to resident feedback and
often are related to: planning to a cross-project average of 54 reflect their desires and concerns
around site-specific barriers to percent. To address connectivity, in something visible and tangible.
access; addressing perceptual funders might earmark a portion Community participation can and
issues around inclusion and of their investments for mobility should continue after the ribbon
trust in communities of color; improvements, and project cutting, too; projects that had
ensuring projects lead to equitable leaders might integrate mobility community governance structures,
community development; and improvements into project such as The Discovery Center
creating sustainable operating planning from the start. and Detroit Riverfront, fostered
models that balance revenue consistent resident input over time,
generation with a consistent focus — which contributed to program
on mission. To address challenges around development that reflected specific
inclusion and trust among activities local residents were
To build on successes and communities of color, expand interested in.
overcome challenges, Knight, other support of local organizations
funders, and the broader field can and fund ongoing community Expanded funding and support
consider action in five areas: participation efforts. for community organization staff,
for relatively quick and low-cost
— In many disinvested communities pilots, and for ongoing community
To address challenges related of color, investing in and building representation can model more
to physical connectivity, invest the capacity of community inclusive public space design and
in design changes that improve organizations — not just the spaces management.
access to the site. themselves — elevates trusted
local leaders who can serve as —
While one public space alone champions of the project. One To proactively manage resident
cannot overcome barriers like community leader spoke of the concerns around displacement,
highways or hills, projects can importance of this approach: when tie public space investments to

broader community development like Cherry Street Pier and Detroit that have no precedents. Through
processes. Riverfront, value capture was an its role as convener, philanthropy
enticing but elusive source of new can facilitate cross-community
New public spaces can be an revenue. As project leaders look knowledge sharing. This process
inspiring first step toward inclusive to adopt such models, funders can help project leaders trade
development, but they can also might play both a convening ideas, develop tactics to overcome
generate fear of displacement and a funding role — bringing common challenges, and build
among long-time residents or stakeholders together to explore lasting relationships that serve
communities of color. how public spaces can generate them well after the design process.
sustainable revenue (e.g., by
Projects like Ella Fitzgerald Park gaining income from nearby These recommendations are
communicated investments were development through value a start, and more detailed
for local residents by framing them capture). considerations for design
as the first step in a broader set of strategies, community relations,
resident-centered improvements Both MOMENT and Cherry Street and evidence-based planning are
— such as homeownership Pier also represent innovative new provided on the following pages.
pathways and a commercial models for supporting creatives
corridor revitalization. Projects like in public spaces. In both cases, Closing
The Discovery Center, on the other interviewees were interested in
hand, surprised some residents scaling the model. Funders might As Gehl and Knight Foundation
who were less concerned with consider investments to help scale take stock of the lessons from
birding habitats than they were second iterations of successful this impact assessment, they
with issues like housing security. projects in other locations — in acknowledge there is much
partnership with the project transformative work already
From project outset, leaders leaders who were successful in the underway in public spaces and
can work to identify where first site. communities — of which these
there is opportunity to integrate projects are just a sample. For
site-specific work with broader — those committed to ensuring
community-based planning efforts Overall, to help project leaders public spaces meet resident needs
or concerns — and seek funding think more boldly and address and drive equitable community
opportunities accordingly. challenges to their work, create development, the lessons in this
opportunities for cross-project report serve as a guide.
— knowledge exchange.
To create sustainable operating Many thoughtful planners,
models, fund innovative new Despite differences in their designers, and community leaders
paradigms that diversify revenue projects, each grantee shared how know that more inclusive and
sources. valuable it was to discuss common responsive approaches are vital.
challenges and generate new ideas Putting these approaches to
For large-scale projects catalyzing with other public space leaders. work can be more challenging. By
nearby real estate development, Many of the grantees lead projects revealing successful strategies
These lessons emphasize the

importance of engaging, reflecting, and
empowering communities throughout
the lifecycle of a public space — from
design to programming to operations.
and tactics, the projects in this
report point the way toward more
inclusive and adaptive methods
in public space planning — in the
pandemic and beyond.
What's more, these findings

demonstrate how thoughtfully-
developed public spaces can spark
larger community change — by
helping residents re-envision and
embrace their neighborhoods,
building capacity of local
organizations, and spurring
additional investment in the area.
From small neighborhood parks to
landmark waterfront sites, public
spaces are a strong foundation
for more positive and equitable
Read on for more

considerations for
shaping transformative
public spaces

Considerations for more transformative public spaces
What follows are actions funders and practitioners may take to build on the lessons
learned in this impact assessment. They focus on three areas:
Design Strategies / Developing high-quality public spaces that meet local needs
Earmark funds for pilots and prototyping, which help projects gain real-time design and
programming feedback, reach more audiences, and demonstrate commitment to the process.
Incorporate physical connectivity improvements and engagement of mobility experts to ensure

access between site and neighborhood.
Ensure sites are strategically located — such as those that can drive community development, have
high connectivity potential, are located in long-disinvested areas, or have historical local significance.
Use high-quality, locally resonant design and materials to demonstrate commitment to the
community and reflect what people care about.
Organize convenings and knowledge sharing opportunities within and across communities, to spark
new concepts and ideas, and to help teams experience and see new ways of working or designing.
Community Relations / Driving collaboration, trust, and attachment over time
Ensure the project is part of — or can drive — a broader community planning process. Take the time
to understand what other efforts are underway in the community, and how the public space can catalyze,
complement, and coincide.
Support and elevate community champions (e.g., CDCs, respected residents) who have the best pulse
on local needs to set the public space agenda.
Stay collaborative and adaptive. Work with grantees to scope projects that are clear on mission, but
flexible in tactics and timing.
Use the project to support collaborative working relationships. By engaging a cross-section of

city and state departments, community organizations, and funders, projects can set a new bar for
collaborative public space design.
Create governance structures to ensure ongoing local representation and outreach after completion
(e.g., board seats, community outreach committees).
Support workforce development programs that can manage maintenance of the space by hiring local
transitional workers.

Evidence-Based Planning / Informing ongoing learning in public space
Make evidence-based storytelling part of the project from the get-go, by creating evaluation plans
that define measures of success — so grantees can more consistently monitor and share progress, and
so funders can understand how impacts relate across the portfolio.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to data collection. Rather than a standard set of metrics, let
project goals, desired outcomes, and grantee capacity determine data collection methods and define
metrics for success.
Identify metrics that are consistently insightful across projects. Gehl found certain metrics were
particularly important to gauging impact: frequency of visits, average hourly visitors, perceived access,
sociodemographics of visitors, and perception (sentiment and attachment).
Add human stories to quantitative metrics, using interviews and focus groups to gain a fuller picture of
impact beyond quantitative dashboards.
Experiment with new methods / tools, such as: (1) social media analysis to understand digital footprint
and use, and (2) research services to understand who hasn’t been to the space and why (not just
active visitors). These services can add a more objective perspective, as grantee surveys often are
administered by project practitioners, which can add bias.
Use broader datasets like the census selectively — to inform public space context and long-term
neighborhood trends, rather than as a standalone measure to assess public space impact.
Work with existing datasets — even if they’re a patchwork. Leverage sources like grantee-generated
programming summaries and sensor data to triangulate different forms of impact at the sites.

Appendix 1
Overview of methodology
Methods reveiwed include:
• Interviews & Focus Groups

• Observational Analysis
• Online Survey
• Social Media Analysis

Interviews & Focus Groups
Gehl interviewed 53 people involved in all projects to understand project

conditions and perceptions aligned to the focus areas of this impact
assessment. Interviews and focus groups lasted 30 to 90 minutes
each, with some requiring follow-up conversations, and some covering
multiple projects. The list of people interviewed for each project is below.
AKRON / Summit Lake PHILADELPHIA / Centennial Commons PHILADELPHIA / The Discovery Center
Interviews Interviews Interviews
• James Hardy, Deputy Mayor of • Jennifer Mahar, Senior Director • Tonnetta Graham, Executive
Integrated Development, City of of Civic Initiatives, Fairmount Park Director, Strawberry Mansion CDC
Akron Conservancy • Patrick Morgan, First Deputy
• Grace Hudson, Resident • Patrick Morgan, First Deputy Commissioner of Parks &
• Demetrius Lambert-Falconer, Chief Commissioner of Parks & Recreation, Strategy and
of Community Engagement, Summit Recreation, Strategy and Engagement, City of Philadelphia
Metro Parks Engagement, City of Philadelphia • Izzy Nelson, Community
• Dan Rice, President & Chief • Tashia Rayon, Program Manager, Engagement Manager, Philadelphia
Executive Officer, Ohio & Erie Centennial Parkside CDC Outward Bound School
Canalway Coalition • Chris Spahr, Executive Director, • Meg Wise, Executive Director,
• Sandy Saulsberry, Resident Centennial Parkside CDC Philadelphia Outward Bound School
• Bronlynn Thurman, Program Officer,
GAR Foundation SAN JOSE / MOMENT
PHILADELPHIA / Cherry Street Pier
Interviews
DETROIT / Ella Fitzgerald Park Interviews
• Kevin Biggers, Chief Strategist, SJ
• Marcus Bush, Site Manager of
Interviews Made
Cherry Street Pier, DRWC
• Meagan Elliott, Chief Parks Planner, • Chuck Hammers, Former President
• Almaz Crowe, Director of
City of Detroit of the Downtown San Jose Property-
Communications and Marketing,
• Alexa Bush, Urban Design Director - Based Improvement District
DRWC
East Region, City of Detroit • Scott Knies, Executive Director, San
• Sarah Eberle, General Manager of
• Devon Buskin, Workforce Jose Downtown Association
Cherry Street Pier, DRWC
Development Director, Greening of • Nate LeBlanc, Business
• Joe Forkin, President, Delaware
Detroit Development Manager, San Jose
River Waterfront Corporation
• Chanale Greer, Youth Ambassador Downtown Association
(DRWC)
• Marie Millares, Street Life
• Emma Fried-Cassorla, Creative
DETROIT / Riverfront Manager, San Jose Downtown
Director, DRWC
Association
Interviews • Dave Moore, Director of Parks and
• Jim Ortbal, Deputy City Manager,
• Rachel Frierson, Director of Attractions, DRWC
City of San Jose
Programming, Detroit Riverfront • Patrick Morgan, First Deputy
• Nathan Ulsh, Director of Policy and
Conservancy Commissioner of Parks &
Operations, San Jose Downtown
• Gregory “JB” Sims, Owner, Smokey Recreation, Strategy and
Association
G’s Smokehouse Engagement, City of Philadelphia
• Blage Zelalich, Downtown Manager,
• Meagan Elliott, Chief Parks Planner, • Lizzie Woods, Executive Vice
City of San Jose
City of Detroit President of Development and
Capital Projects, DRWC
Tenant Focus Group
Volunteer / Community Advisory Team • Lavelle Young, Vice President of
• Angie Chua, Founder and Creative
Focus Group Operations, DRWC
Director at Bobo Design Studio
• William Bilalkowski
• Alyssarhaye Graciano, Founder,
• Zenola Brandon Artist Focus Group
Designer and Knitter at
• Deborah Hardison-Hill • Jim Abbott
BlackSheepMade
• Bob Hoey • Acori Honzo
• Au Nguyen, Owner, Au La La Design
• Sandi McIntosh • Kathleen Nace
• Janlynn Miller • Sharif Pendleton
• Elena Newnell • Athena Scott
• Leslie Tom • Thomcat23 (Keni Thomas)
• Ann Usitalo

Social Media Analysis
This analysis provides a snapshot differentiates Instagram from • Demographic Bias: There
into each project studied — a other social networks like Twitter, are demographic trends in
glimpse into a sample of visitors at lending a richer and often more social media and Instagram-
a specific moment in time. In doing nuanced form of data than a tweet. specific usership that have
so, rather than providing a holistic inherent bias. Social media is
overview of visitorship, we’re What’s more, Instagram provides more widely used by women
able to highlight a sample of user a large user base. It is the second- and Instagram usership
perspectives and their experiences most popular social network skews towards a younger
and perceptions of each place. (behind Facebook, which has demographic (ages 18-49). It is
stringent data access restrictions also more widely used by urban
Instagram was selected as the in place and thus was excluded residents.
data source for social media from this study) and also the fastest
analysis because of its variety in growing in terms of usership. • Limits on Post Archives:
content, growth in usership, and Instagram limits how many
mobile-first platform. Lastly, mobile-first content allows posts can be collected, which
researchers to access data that limits our ability to view data
The platform’s rich set of user- archives users’ daily events, where from months past. For this
generated content includes: a they document their own personal reason, we were only able to
text-based component; a visual, experiences, trips, and lifestyles on collect data from November
photography-based component the go. and October 2020 for the most
that provides insight into highly engaged geotags, where
preferences and experiences; and This snapshot contains some data is reflective of usership
a geographic tagging component. limitations: during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research suggests that this variety For geotags with lower rates
of engagement, data was
METHODOLOGY DIAGRAM collected from as far back as
summer 2019.
Cherry The Discovery Summit
Street Pier Center Lake Park • Varying Number of Posts by
(n=226) (n=18) (n=14) Site: Some projects have more
Instagram engagement than
Dequindre Cut Robert C. MOMENT others — resulting in variation
Freight Yard Valade Park
across the size of each
(n=139) (n=71) (n=7)
project’s scraped data set.
Additionally, not all projects in
this study had actively-engaged
475 posts or formally designated
scraped via geotags & Instaloader Instagram geotags. Due to this,
Centennial Commons and Ella
THEMATIC CAPTION
Fitzgerald Park were omitted
RAW GRAPHS &
CODING VISUALIZATIONS from this analysis.
• Inconsistent Geotagging:
We used the project’s geotag
IMAGE SUBJECT QUALITATIVE IMAGE location to collect data specific
CODING ANALYSIS to each site. This means we
were only able to capture data
that users tagged at each
CONTRIBUTOR
QUANTITATIVE project. Any posts shared at
DEMOGRAPHIC Data collection
the project locations but not
CODING
ANALYSIS
Data analysis tagged were thus not captured.

Online Survey
Design and Distribution and for recording/collecting they were most familiar with,
their survey responses — potentially leading some
Gehl distributed an online survey to this skews the resulting data respondents to indicate they
understand visitorship, perception, toward those with access to were unfamiliar with a project
and attachment for each project. certain technologies, given the they actually were familiar
The survey was distributed “digital divide” experienced in with. Gehl listed projects with
using Pollfish, an online market- some marginalized groups. as much context as possible
research service. This service uses (e.g., "MOMENT micro-retail
• Using the geolocation of shops on San Pedro Square")
an “organic sampling method,”
prospective respondents, while
which allowed Gehl to target
helpful for getting place-based The diagram at right breaks down
respondents within a predefined
insight at a very granular the survey samples into groups as
1- to 5-mile geographic radius of
level, also means that some they were analyzed. Respondents
each project site. Based on their
respondents who participated were grouped based on their self-
geographic location, a random
in the survey could have been identification as being familiar with
set of respondents received an
just passing through the area, a given project. From there, their
invitation to participate via their
rather than a local resident. survey responses were analyzed
mobile device. From there, invited
both based on sentiment but also
participants could opt to respond • Some projects observed sociodemographically to uncover
to the survey with a chance to win higher rates of participation broader patterns across the
a monetary incentive. The survey than others. Given the sample, where applicable.
ran for six weeks, engaging over specific radii for targeting
800 unique respondents. survey participants, projects The intent of this diagram
in lower-density residential is to visualize how sample
Discussion environments saw less traffic. sizes decrease as more
In an attempt to reach a criteria is applied, ultimately
Unlike other methods of survey stable sample size across all resulting in smaller groups as
distribution, Pollfish’s service projects, the radii for these sociodemographic filters are
ensured the survey was randomly lower engagement projects applied.
distributed to each project’s local was slightly expanded during
population. This form of sampling the survey period. While this In the righthand column, select
made sure the respondent pool expansion helped collect demographic characteristics are
was not biased toward an over- responses, it also skews the displayed for reference and are not
representation of active users and sample pool to a larger group inclusive of all groups included in
already engaged with the projects. of people who may be less this study.
Further, administering the survey aware of the project.
in this way responded to grantee
concerns about over-engaging • Some of the distinct projects
their stakeholders in a way that highlighted in this report are
could be perceived as a burden. in the same city (in Detroit and
Given the context of the ongoing Philadelphia). In these cities,
pandemic, this research method respondents may have been
also allowed for extensive survey targeted for a given project
distribution without requiring (geographically close to them)
respondents to physically interface but were more familiar with
with the research team. another project in a different
part of the city.
Limitations • Many of the projects studied
are known by multiple names.
• The survey distribution method This may have confused survey
required participants have a respondents when they were
smartphone both for outreach asked to identify which project

OVERVIEW OF SURVEY SAMPLE GROUPS
All responses By city By project By demographic

800+ Avg: 204 Avg: 87 Avg: 26
*Radii for Summit Lake Park and Centennial Commons changed partway
through the survey — from 1 mile to 5 miles and 3 miles, respectively — to
field more responses
Observational Analysis
The observational analysis used Gehl team at Cherry Street Pier Summit Lake. The observational
in this report provides a look and MOMENT, data collected by data used in this report does not
into public life activity at the sensors at the Detroit Riverfront, provide a complete picture of
project sites through foot traffic foot traffic totals from previous public life at each site, but an initial
and stationary activity data. The years provided by Cherry Street understanding of how people are
public life data used in this report Pier, and public life data collected using the site.
comes from a range of sources as a part of Reimagining the Civic
— data collected firsthand by the Commons for Ella Fitzgerald and

Appendix 2
Overview of online
survey findings

CLOSER LOOK
Survey Analysis
Gehl conducted an online survey of over 800 people within a 1
to 5 mile radius of each site. Responses reveal insights around
public space use, access, perception, and attachment to place and
community. For more on Gehl’s methodology, visit Appendix 1.
Public spaces attracted people living nearby — with

variations in race, income, and frequency of visits.
DEMOGRAPHICS OF FAMILIAR RESPONDENTS
Prefer not to say White respondents make up the largest
Arab share of respondents familiar with the
surveyed projects.
Asian
—
RACE
Black
Hispanic/ Latino Non-White respondents were familiar
with Detroit Riverfront, MOMENT, and The
Multiracial/ Other
Discovery Center at higher rates; 53% of
Ella Fitzgerald Centennial Detroit Cherry
MOMENT
Summit The Discovery White respondents familiar with each project
Park Commons Riverfront Street Pier Lake Park Center
were non-White.
Prefer not to say
Low income
Across all but two projects, low-income
respondents make up the largest share
INCOME
Middle income of familiar respondents.

High income
—
MOMENT drew the highest shares of high-
income respondents (51%) while Detroit
Ella Fitzgerald
Park
Centennial
Commons
Detroit
Riverfront
Cherry
Street Pier
MOMENT
Summit
Lake Park
The Discovery
Center Riverfront drew the highest shares of low-
income respondents (59%).
Neighborhood Parks Citywide Destinations Nature Spaces
HOW OFTEN DO YOU VISIT?

Most projects draw regular visitors.
Daily or weekly
Monthly —
A couple times a Cherry Street Pier has the lowest rates
year or less of reported regular usership (daily, 5%;
weekly, 8%) while Ella Fitzgerald Park
(27% daily; 27% weekly) and Centennial
Commons (20% daily; 34% weekly) have
the highest — aligning to the Pier’s identity
as a place for special occasions, and
the parks' identities as neighborhood
hangouts.
Ella Fitzgerald Centennial Detroit Cherry Summit The Discovery

MOMENT
Park Commons Riverfront Street Pier Lake Park Center
Neighborhood Parks Citywide Destinations Nature Spaces

Perceptual barriers impact use — especially among
marginalized groups.
HAVE YOU VISITED THIS PLACE?
Most people who were familiar with

the projects have visited them.
—
The Discovery Center saw the lowest
reported visitorship among all projects
Unsure — with disproportionately low visitorship
from residents over 54, and from
No low-income residents. Notably, low
Yes visitorship was also observed among
Black respondents, despite the fact
Ella Fitzgerald
Park
Centennial
Commons
Detroit
Riverfront
Cherry
Street Pier
MOMENT
Summit
Lake Park
The Discovery
Center
that responses indicated non-White
respondents were familiar with the
Neighborhood Parks Citywide Destinations Nature Spaces project at higher-than-average rates.
WHY HAVEN’T YOU VISITED THIS PLACE?

All respondents Black respondents Low-income Lack of awareness and sense of safety
respondents deter some marginalized groups.
—
Black respondents cited not knowing
what to do at a space at higher rates.
—
Low-income respondents cited safety
more than other groups — especially at
nature spaces and neighborhood parks.
—
Lack of time was the most-cited reason
for not visiting neighborhood parks and
nature projects. Citywide destinations
observed higher rates of visitors not
Unsure
knowing what to do there.
It’s out of the way
It feels unsafe
I haven’t heard of it
Not sure what I’d do there
Neighborhood Citywide Nature Neighborhood Citywide Nature Neighborhood Citywide Nature I don’t have time
Parks Destinations Spaces Parks Destinations Spaces Parks Destinations Spaces
“THIS PLACE MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME TO

ACCESS AND USE OPEN SPACE AND NATURE.”
Across the board, projects are
Neighborhood
succeeding in making people feel closer

Parks
to nature.
—
Destinations
Despite their missions, nature-centric

Citywide
projects observed the highest rate of

disagreement as well as ambivalence with
this statement.
Spaces
Nature
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

82%
People feel positively about these spaces, to of all respondents
feel positively about
varying degrees by demographic group. these projects
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SPACE?

Neighborhood
Neighborhood parks have the most

Parks
enthusiasm from respondents.
—
Destinations
Respondents at Ella Fitzgerald Park

Citywide
and Centennial Commons feel “strongly

positive” and that the space is “special to
me” at higher rates — especially among
Spaces
Black respondents.
Nature
Extremely positive Somewhat positive Neutral Somewhat negative Extremely negative
“THIS IS A PLACE WHERE I FIT IN.”

Neighborhood
While 81% of all respondents agree

Parks
with the statement, low-income

respondents are more neutral.
Destinations
—
Citywide
Low-income respondents are more likely

to feel neutral about whether they fit in.
Spaces
Nature
“THIS PLACE IS ESSENTIAL TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD.”
67% of all respondents agree with the

Neighborhood
statement — and 83% of respondents

Parks
in neigborhood parks
—
Destinations
Citywide
Nature spaces in historically Black,

disinvested neighborhoods (The
Discovery Center and Summit Lake Park)
feel less “essential” to respondents. This
Spaces
Nature
echoes concerns voiced by grantees

about distrust and skepticism among
Black residents, given legacies of
environmental racism.

Respondents who use these spaces have high levels of
attachment to their neighborhoods and cities.
HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH YOUR

METRO AREA AS A PLACE TO LIVE?
Respondents for neighborhood sites
Neighborhood
tend to have the greatest satisfaction

Parks
with their cities.
—
Destinations
Citywide
95% of Ella Fitzgerald Park respondents

were satisfied with Detroit, followed
by 86% of Centennial Commons
respondents for Philadelphia.
Spaces
Nature
Extremely satisfied Somewhat satisfied Neutral Somewhat dissatisfied Extremely dissatisfied
“MY METRO AREA’S CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE

ARE PERFECT FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.”
Despite being in the same city,
Neighborhood
respondents for some projects differed

Parks
on their attachment to metro area.
—
Destinations
Citywide
For example, 91% of Centennial Commons

respondents agreed, whereas 80% of The
Discovery Center respondents agreed.
Spaces
Nature
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
SUPPOSE YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE YOU WANTED

IN THE UNITED STATES. WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO:
Neighborhood Parks Citywide Destinations Nature Spaces Neighborhood park respondents are
most likely to want to stay in their
neighborhood — signaling quality local
20% spaces may help drive community
28% attachment.
66% 49% 28% 23% 55%
—
70% of Centennial Commons
14% 17% respondents would choose to stay in the
neighborhood, followed by 60% of Ella
Fitzgerald respondents — the highest
rates of all projects.
Stay in my neighborhood Move to a different neighborhood Move to a different metro area altogether

Appendix 3
Overview of social media
analysis findings

CLOSER LOOK Cherry Street Pier The Discovery Center M
Social
Media
Analysis
This snapshot of each
public space's Instagram
footprint provides a
glimpse into the everyday
life of these public
spaces. Through analysis
of photo subjects, caption
content, post timing, and
user information, the
sites' missions come to
life online. To inform the
analysis, Gehl scraped
over 450 posts’ worth
of Instagram data for
select Knight Foundation
projects — revealing
data and stories related
to place sentiment and
activity. The approach is
a complement to other
methods that directly
engaged those using or
involved with the spaces.
Note: Centennial Commons and Ella

Fitzgerald Park are not represented
in this analysis, as they had a more
limited geotagged Instagram
presence. For more on the
methodology, visit Appendix 1.

Dequindre Cut Valade Park
Moment Summit Lake Park (Detroit Riverfront) (Detroit Riverfront)
PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM USERS; NOTE: SOME FACES HAVE BEEN BLURRED OUT FOR PRIVACY

Projects’ missions are reflected in visitors' Instagram
photo subjects.
PHOTO SUBJECT BY PROJECT
Pictures of art, people, and landscapes specific, mission-driven activities. Research indicates that photos of self-
were most prevalent. Across the most Cherry Street Pier and MOMENT saw portraits, friends, activities, captioned
popular subject categories, photos the greatest share of photos showcasing photos (pictures with embedded text),
featuring children, waterfront views art, aligning to these projects' ambitions food, and gadgets are the six most
and people posing for “instagrammable to showcase the work and promote the common subjects shared on the app.
moments” (e.g., photo stand-ins, visibility of local artists and makers. By contrast, the high number of art
oversized adirondack chairs at Summit and landscape photos — two of the
Lake Park) were widely documented. Summit Lake Park and The Discovery top subjects in this snapshot study
Center, on the other hand, saw the — indicates that these projects are
Places with the least diverse greatest share of landscape photos, succeeding in attracting visitor interest
documentation — MOMENT and The aligning to their missions to connect for draws like public art and green space.
Discovery Center — are quasi-public people to nature and once-neglected
spaces where operators guide more shorelines.

Caption language in projects’ geotagged posts reflects
their distinct identity.
Analysis of post language indicates that the space and the most visible activities Street Pier’s civic Instagram activity,
visitor experiences align with project cultivated there, while reinforcing the on the other hand, related to electoral
goals and missions. project’s ambitions to showcase local activism — in particular, many users
entrepreneurship. posted advocacy related to voting and
For instance, in the Detroit Riverfront’s the 2020 election. Additional research
Robert C. Valade Park, the dominant At Dequindre Cut and Cherry Street Pier, is needed to build on these findings, and
voice throughout the Instagram sample we also observed users documenting further explore how public art can serve
is drawn from the most highly engaged political expression and public art. as a canvas for personal and political
actors in that network: the two resident #BlackLivesMatter was a common expression in public space.
food vendors at the park. This high level term in the language used by Dequindre
of commercial engagement on social Cut visitors, who highlighted street art
media may shape visitors’ perceptions of advocating for the movement. Cherry
POST LANGUAGE
BY PROJECT

Some projects serve as everyday places, while others
see more concentrated bursts of engagement.
The streamgraph below visualizes the engagement. In some cases, these
time series of visitor posts throughout bursts of engagement coincide with
the month of October. The first two program events. For example, MOMENT’s
weekends of the month saw spikes “Animal Crossing Pop-Up Shop” in early
in engagement across all projects, October (a warmer month), themed after
but some sites skewed toward more the popular video game, drew many
consistent (Cherry Street Pier and attendees according to organizers, and
Dequindre Cut) or sporadic (MOMENT the event was mentioned in 71 percent of
and Summit Lake) social media sampled Instagram posts.
POST VOLUME OVER TIME BY PROJECT

Most people posting in the Instagram sample are city
residents, with some sites fielding regional visitors.
Across the project samples, local city ORIGIN OF INSTAGRAM USERS BY PROJECT
residents comprised the largest share
(over 65 percent) of Instagram users
posting at the project. This is a promising
sign that the projects are serving city
residents first and foremost — and no
doubt, it is a reflection of the hyper-local
City
lives brought on by COVID-19 travel
restrictions and distancing measures.
At Cherry Street Pier and Dequindre Cut,

a portion of Instagram users came from
the wider region. This dynamic reflects
these sites’ broader appeal beyond their
neighborhoods.

MARCH 2021

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Adaptive

A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF SEVEN SITES IN

GEHL KNIGHT FOUNDATION

Matthew Lister Evette Alexander

Knight Foundation & Gehl 2

1 / Everyday Public Space 20

3 Adaptive Public Space

This study of seven flagship public

Knight Foundation & Gehl 4

5 Adaptive Public Space

Public spaces with a strong foundation

EVERYDAY PUBLIC SPACE

Ella Fitzgerald Park in

More starting on page 20

RESIDENTS AT THE CENTER

The Discovery Center

attachment to the spaces.

Knight Foundation & Gehl 6

PHOTO: SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIAITION

SUSTAINING IN THE LONG RUN

PHOTO: RENEE RODRIGUEZ

Detroit Riverfront and

More starting on page 16

7 Adaptive Public Space

Knight Foundation & Gehl 8

From environmental liability to beloved lakeside park. Summit Nature

DETROIT / ELLA FITZGERALD PARK

PHILADELPHIA / CENTENNIAL COMMONS

PHILADELPHIA / CHERRY STREET PIER

PHILADELPHIA / THE DISCOVERY CENTER

SAN JOSE / MOMENT

9 Adaptive Public Space

Knight Foundation & Gehl 10

Many thoughtful planners,

What's more, these findings

11 Adaptive Public Space

PHOTOS: KNIGHT FOUNDATION

TYPE / Nature Space

WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Inclusive

Note: This project received RCC funding.

Knight Foundation & Gehl 12

TYPE / Neighborhood Park

WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Development of

Note: This project received RCC funding.

PHOTOS: GOOGLE STREET VIEW (BEFORE); FELICIA FULWOOD (AFTER)

TYPE / Citywide Destination (Riverfront Park)

WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Development

Note: Knight also invested in the 2004 capital

13 Adaptive Public Space

PHOTOS: GOOGLE STREET VIEW (BEFORE); ALBERT YEE (AFTER)

TYPE / Neighborhood Park

WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Capital

Note: This project received RCC funding.

TYPE / Citywide Destination (Arts Space)

WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Development

Knight Foundation & Gehl 14

TYPE / Nature Space

WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Design and

Note: This project received RCC funding.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

TYPE / Citywide Destination (Micro-Retail

WHAT KNIGHT FUNDED / Transformation of

15 Adaptive Public Space

Local spaces are weathering disruptions to public life,