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Knight Foundation Public Space Impact Assessment

Uncovering the impact of public spaces to accelerate COVID-19 recovery

Sector

Civic & Public

Region

North America

Timespan

2020-2021

Summit Lake Park in Akron, OH 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. Credit: Knight Foundation

As cities adapt to new ways of living and working, there is a growing need to ensure that public spaces are equitable and inclusive. The Knight Foundation asked Gehl to conduct an impact assessment of seven flagship public spaces across four cities to evaluate how design and engagement processes laid the groundwork for community impact, before, during, and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once a parking garage facade, MOMENT is now a creative hub on San José’s San Pedro Square. The project provides affordable retail space to local makers, diversifies downtown amenities, and adds to the Square’s public life. Credit: San José Downtown Association
Detroit’s Ella Fitzgerald Park was the first project in a broader neighborhood planning process. It offers locally designed public art, recreational space, and an educational and workforce development program for local youth and transitional workers. Credit: Bree Gant

Investing in resilient public spaces

Public spaces play a crucial role as community hubs, and their design, engagement, and upkeep can significantly impact community well-being and resilience, especially during a global pandemic. Gehl used a multi-method approach, including: interviews and focus groups with over 50 people (from city leaders to artists-in-residence); an online survey of over 800 respondents near each space; observational data on space use; and an analysis of over 450 posts of geotagged Instagram activity. The evaluation was designed to capture a wide range of perspectives and gain deep insights into how public spaces contribute to community development and COVID-19 recovery.

Gehl’s research underscored the need for investing in inclusive public spaces as part of COVID-19 recovery and beyond. Key findings spoke to the importance of sustained community engagement and community-led design, of public art that reflects the historical character of neighborhoods, and of adaptable operating models / governance structures that can respond to changing conditions and crises like a pandemic.

Rooted in this research, Gehl provided a set of actionable recommendations to the Knight Foundation for advancing equitable public spaces. These recommendations were designed to promote the ongoing creation of high-quality, engaging, and equitable public spaces. By doing so, they help equip city leaders, policymakers, and practitioners with the tools to better meet community needs, ultimately fostering more resilient and vibrant urban environments.

Explore the findings in the full report here.

Cherry Street Pier — a waterfront arts space in Philadelphia — saw a more than threefold jump in foot traffic from November 2019 to November 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 families down, their dogs, their bikes, exercise classes and coaches. The area is on the map.” Credit: Cherry Street Pier
Matthew Lister, Managing Director The Americas, Partner Julia Day, Team Director US Cities, Partner Eamon O’Connor, Senior Project Manager Olivia Flynn, Senior Designer Rebecca Cook, Project Manager Adriana Akers, Senior Project Manager
The river lies right on the city’s doorstep and offers a relaxing respite from the urban hustle and bustle, yet it is often difficult for all users to access. Credit: Gehl

Revitalizing and connecting Melbourne’s city centre to its riverfront

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: LHM/MOR, DobnerAngermann

Modernizing Munich’s old town as a place for all

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Monon Trail is the centerpiece of more than $175 million in redevelopment in downtown Carmel. Credit: City of Carmel

Catalyzing downtown redevelopment around cycling

  • Urban Design & Masterplanning
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
Broadway at Times Square in 2009, after Gehl worked with the City of New York and the Department of Transport on a major urban realm and bicycle strategy. Credit: Department of Transport (DOT)

Redefining New York City’s relationship with its streets

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
The Amager ‘Buslet’ challenged current bus stop design by aiming to provide better protection against extreme weather and local air pollution, as well as more inviting waiting spaces set back from traffic lanes to encourage social interaction. Credit: Gehl

Exploring ways to minimize exposure to air pollution in Copenhagen

  • Place Activation
  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
Credit: Van Leer Foundation

Advocating for child-friendly cities globally

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy

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