Placemaking is a people-centered approach

This week several of my colleagues attended the Placemaking Conference hosted by the Institute for Quality Communities at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. The conference brings together students, advocates, professionals and civic leaders from across Oklahoma and other states to learn from leading experts on community development. One of the things that stands out about the conference is the breadth of where and how placemaking can occur – from public spaces and parks to office spaces and neighborhoods.

Placemaking is a people-centered approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. It is about more than the physical location. It is about creating a common vision from the people who live, work and play in that space.

Kerr Park in downtown Oklahoma City is an excellent example of placemaking in parks. In 2014, the park underwent a major landscaping renovation, but was often unused. In 2018, through a Southwest Airlines Heart of the Community grant and numerous partners and stakeholders, Downtown OKC Partnership reimagined how people would use the park and created a more inviting space that encourages daily use with multiple seating options, landscaping and outdoor activities, such as a bocce court.

Read the full article at The Journal Record