Rethinking and Activating Public Space in Seattle and Boston

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Rethinking and Activating Public Space in Seattle and Boston Abstract: Seattle and Boston are two U.S. cities that have embraced new roles the public sector can play in managing and activating public space, including streets. Seattle's Public Space Management Program and Boston's Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics support innovative public space projects by partnering with city departments, community members, and designers to pilot, test, learn, and scale placemaking initiatives. Presenters will share highlights of their programs and the successes and failures of catalyst projects. Presenters: Presenter: Jennifer Wieland Seattle DOT Co-Presenter: Kris Carter City of Boston Co-Presenter: Nate Cormier SvR Design Company

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Rethinking & Activating

Public Space in Seattle & Boston

Kris Carter, Boston Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics

Nate Cormier, SvR Design Company

Jennifer Wieland, Seattle Department of Transportation

Why does this matter?

Photo credit: Crosscut

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Isn’t it obvious?

Photo credit: Courtney Sacco/Metro

What’s the role for cities?

Credit: Mike Lydon, et al

What sparked Seattle to action?

Photo credit: Renegade Planners Collective

What about Boston?

Photo credit: Jason Eppink

What are people saying?

Public Space Management Program

Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place

Jennifer Wieland

September 9, 2014

SDOT’s mission & vision

Mission: delivering a first-rate transportation system for Seattle

Vision: a vibrant Seattle with connected people, places, & products

SDOT’s core principles

Keep it safe

Focus on the

basics

Build healthy

communities

Support a

thriving

economy

Provide great

service

People want places…

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People want places…

12

People want places…

15

People want places…

People want places…

People want places…

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Photo credit: Redbox Pictures

And we have space!

Managing the right-of-way

19 Photo credit: Oran Viriyincy

Program mission Seattle’s Public Space Management Program

promotes and regulates a vibrant, safe, accessible, and attractive shared right-of-way.

A one-stop shop

Where we are today

From PARK(ing) Day…

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…to parklets

Photo credit: Seattle Bike Blog

From sandbox-gate…

Photo credit: Seattle Times

…to play streets

From an intersection…

…to a Scrabble board

Photo credit: Joshua Trujillo, Seattle PI

From a sidewalk…

…to a 2.9 mile hopscotch course

From too little space for people…

…to plenty of empty space…

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…to a lunchtime destination

Photo credit: Downtown Seattle Association

Thank you!

jennifer.wieland@seattle.gov | (206) 733-9970

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/psmp.htm

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation

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