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Social Infrastructure Is Essential Infrastructure Report

"Social Infrastructure Is Essential Infrastructure": How public spaces make the affordable, joyful city possible

Sector

Civic & Public

Region

North America

Timespan

2025-2026

A two-year federally funded research collaboration between IPK and Gehl, focused on advancing new research into social infrastructure across three New York communities. The project explored how public spaces, community networks, and local institutions contribute to social cohesion, resilience, and everyday quality of life, generating insights to inform more inclusive and connected urban development strategies.

Panelists Maria Torres-Springer (President of the Revson Foundation and former First Deputy Mayor of New York City), Louise Yeung (Chief Climate Officer, New York City), and Julia Day (Partner at Gehl) in conversation during the launch event for the Social Infrastructure is Essential Infrastructure report, hosted by NYU IPK and Gehl in New York City.
Image of Seward Park, one of the key study sites on the Lower East Side.

Investing in social infrastructure is investing in the social fabric of our cities

This study emphasizes that social infrastructure isn’t a “nice-to-have” — it’s essential infrastructure. People visit these spaces for everyday needs like studying, resting, running errands, or waiting. Yet these well-designed, programmed, and maintained environments create measurable social outcomes at scale: over 80% of people reported feeling a sense of belonging, 60% felt less isolated, 35% made new friends, and more than half experienced cross-racial interactions. Findings from an in-depth, multi-method research process show that social connection is not the goal people seek out directly — it is the byproduct of accessible, funded, convenient everyday environments and connected neighborhood networks.

The study recommends focusing on a coordinated network of social infrastructure that connects libraries, parks, streets, recreation spaces, and community hubs into a cohesive system. Within this network, it recommends investing in everyday use through accessible, comfortable, and well-maintained spaces supported by consistent programming, staffing, and stewardship — not just one-time capital projects or events. The report calls for a citywide social infrastructure plan that prioritizes equitable access, safe connectivity, and long-term operational funding, while aligning public agencies, philanthropy, developers, and communities around shared responsibility.

Ultimately, the research underscores that investing in social infrastructure is an investment in the social fabric itself, building trust, resilience, health, and more equitable, connected neighborhoods.

Read the full report here.

Spectrum of social connections illustrating key study findings.
Ingredients of effective social infrastructure.
With limited access to green space in the center of the neighborhood, Flatbush Avenue itself has become the community’s primary gathering place. Along the 1.3-mile corridor, Public Life Observations found that more than 200 people per hour consistently stayed throughout the day.
Julia Day, Project Director, Partner Eamon O’Connor, Senior Project Manager Candice Ji, Designer Precious Ndukuba, Designer
Helena Wolf, Designer
Featured artwork: Memory Lane presented in partnership with Midsumma Festival, State Library Station 2021. Credit: Theresa Harrison

Offsetting construction impact and connecting communities in Melbourne through creative interventions

  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Transforming the Vesterbro Passage from traffic dominated space to a green, sustainable and climate adapted public space. Creating a sensory public space for a widespread range of pedestrians and city life. Credit: Gehl

Reorganising the city core into green, climate-adapted public space

  • Urban Design & Masterplanning
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy

Turning strategy into action for the city centre of Konstanz

  • Place Activation
  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
A reimagined William St. as a vibrant, green connector offering a walkable, bike-friendly experience with reduced through-traffic. It will offer more dining options, and be activated with everyday amenities. Credit: Gehl

Shaping Perth City Centre Towards 2036 and beyond

  • Urban Design & Masterplanning
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
The public realm poses a challenge to healthy food access in peripheral neighborhoods of Bogotá. Steep terrain, lack of transportation, and limited healthy food offerings make it difficult for Bogotanos to access the fresh produce needed to cook at home. The nature of the public realm forces people to rely on processed and fast food that is more accessible and heavily advertised. Credit: Gehl

Working across silos to address Bogotá’s food deserts through public space improvements

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Ajuda residents have a median income in the bottom 30% of Lisbon’s earnings and well below the city’s average (2009). The neighborhood’s population nearly doubles daily due to the influx of university staff and students. Credit: Gehl

Improving food access in a disinvested community in Lisbon

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy

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