Cape Town’s Public Spaces: Time for Bold, Creative Change

Cape Town’s CBD is at a pivotal moment. The draft Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF), currently out for comment, emphasises the importance of public spaces, but does it really address what’s needed to transform these areas into vibrant, 24-hour destinations? At the heart of this debate lies a simple truth: public spaces are the backbone of any thriving urban environment. Yet, here in Cape Town, many of our public areas are underutilised, and when the sun sets, they often empty out completely.

Take the Grand Parade, for instance. Once a site steeped in historical significance, it’s now mostly a parking lot. This vast open space was originally a parade ground for the military, a central location where the army would assemble. More recently, it became iconic as the place where Nelson Mandela gave his first speech after being released from prison in 1990—a moment etched into South Africa’s collective memory. But today, it stands pound for pound (or rather, square metre by square metre) essentially lifeless. Why not restore some of its historical function by encouraging the army or local organisations to use it for public displays or military parades, reconnecting with its past while injecting energy into its present?

The LSDF has some good ideas about transforming the Grand Parade into a world-class plaza—drawing inspiration from places like Plaza De Armas in Arequipa, Peru—but what’s really needed is a bold and comprehensive Public Space Policy Framework for the CBD, and broader City Bowl, that goes beyond the LSDF’s surface-level recommendations.

Public spaces should be the lifeblood of our city, places that reflect creativity, culture, and community. Yet, too often, our approach is unimaginative and focused on ad hoc infrastructural upgrades rather than consistent management and curation. It's time to reimagine Cape Town’s public realm with energy, risk-taking, and a commitment to fostering vibrant public life.

Learning from Global Success Stories

World-renowned public spaces like New York’s Bryant Park, London’s Trafalgar Square, and Barcelona’s Pla?a Reial didn’t become iconic by accident. These spaces are meticulously curated and continuously adapted to meet the needs of the people who use them. Cape Town can take valuable lessons from these examples.

• Bryant Park, New York: Once a neglected and unsafe area, Bryant Park was transformed through a comprehensive strategy that included movable seating, free WiFi, curated events, and an active management team that keeps the park lively day and night. What we can learn here is that simply creating a space isn’t enough—how we manage and activate the space is just as important. Imagine if the Grand Parade had a similar approach with regular, well-managed programming: food markets, pop-up performances, or seasonal outdoor events.

• Hyde Park, London: One of the world's most recognisable parks, Hyde Park is a place for both casual use and large public events. The management of the space allows it to serve many purposes. Cape Town’s Grand Parade and the Company’s Gardens precinct, by contrast, are both underused (particularly at night and on weekends), even though each of them has all the potential to host large concerts, festivals, and public gatherings. Just think back to when the Cape Town Electronic Music Festival (CTEMF) was held at the Grand Parade, think of the FIFA World Cup fan park back in that heavenly time in 2010—the space was buzzing with energy and creativity.
• Djemaa el Fna, Marrakesh, Morocco is a bustling square in the heart of Marrakech, known for its vibrant atmosphere and exotic charm. Surrounding the square are antique souks where visitors buy spices, textiles, and traditional Moroccan crafts. This destination also attracts tourists looking to sample delicious Moroccan street food like tagine and couscous. As the sun sets, the square transforms into an open-air theater with storytellers, snake charmers, and musicians entertaining the crowds late into the night.

Cape Town Needs a Public Space Policy Framework

What’s missing from the LSDF is a holistic vision that ties all these great ideas together into a practical, actionable plan—a Public Space Policy Framework. This framework needs to outline how we can maximise the potential of our public spaces by:

• Curating Public Space Offerings: Right now, many spaces, like the Grand Parade, Thibault Square, Greenmarket Square (after hours) and the Company’s Gardens precinct (after hours), are poorly curated. The stall offering in the Grand Parade in particular is haphazard, and the area lacks diversity in attractions. Cape Town’s inner city needs more curated markets, food stalls, and art installations that reflect Cape Town’s culture and draw people in. But they in turn need destination uses that bring in the foot traffic to begin with (think of Rockefeller Plaza in New York, with its outdoor ice skating rink, that gives food and market traders the spending power that can sustain a variety of options).
• Rethinking Edge Conditions and Connectivity: The LSDF proposes investments in the edges of the Grand Parade, particularly around Darling Street and City Hall. A grand staircase connecting the station deck to the Parade could improve access and create an impressive gateway. But beyond that, we should consider pavilions or covered areas to make the space more usable year-round. The Grand Parade is honestly a bleak environment at noon each day in the intensity of the African sun.? Covered structures like those found in Fort Worth, Texas’s famous Sundance Square (the lead photo to this article, see above) protect people from the elements, thereby encouraging more time in the space.
• Active Nightlife and Safety Measures: As it stands, Cape Town’s public spaces don’t feel safe or inviting at night. The solution is more than just adding security—it’s about creating environments where people want to be. Better lighting, interactive elements, and evening programming can make public spaces safe through activity. For instance, the LSDF mentions upgrading the paving and stall infrastructure in Greenmarket Square, but why stop there? Imagine turning it into an evening art market or cultural hub, drawing tourists and locals alike off the chaotic Long Street drag long after business hours.
• Encouraging Community Engagement and Shared Ownership: To truly unlock the potential of public spaces, we need to foster a sense of shared ownership. The City must reach out to communities and foster partnerships with cultural groups, making it easy and user-friendly for people to organise events, markets, and other activities. Thoughtfully designed signage, with clear contact details for the City's parks department, can encourage more people to use these spaces for activations without the hassle of searching for information online. This simple step can invite community-led initiatives, helping to keep public spaces active, diverse, and vibrant.
• Promoting Sports and Social Activities: Public spaces can become destinations for physical activity and play. Take Hout Bay’s Eyethu skate park, which has brought together youth from different communities. Why not introduce similar features to the CBD? Whether it’s Padel courts, 5-a-side soccer pitches, or cricket nets, integrating recreational activities into our public spaces will make them more attractive to a wider range of people and also offer solutions to night-time economies that are too heavily skewed toward the consumption of alcohol.

• Integrating Technology: Urban regeneration developers Urban Lime were ahead of the curve when free public WiFi and charging stations were introduced at Church Square in 2018 (as well as lounger chairs and fake lawn). This was a draw for families who would come and use the free public wifi with their kids, sometimes later than 10 o’ clock in the evening. Expanding free WiFi, adding more charging points, and providing electricity for events and traders are simple yet effective ways to make our public spaces more user-friendly and versatile.

What’s Next for Cape Town?

Public spaces are not just afterthoughts in city planning—they are essential to creating a thriving, liveable city. If Cape Town wants to attract more residents to its CBD and foster a sense of community, we need to think creatively and take calculated risks in how we design, manage, and activate these spaces.

The LSDF offers a glimpse into what’s possible, but to truly unlock the potential of Cape Town’s public spaces, we need a cohesive Public Space Policy Framework for the CBD (and surrounding City Bowl areas where the City is trying to encourage densification). This policy would not only set a clear direction for investments in public areas but also ensure that the right stakeholders—from city planners to the arts and culture sector—are all aligned in creating spaces that are safe, accessible, and dynamic.

Let’s be playful. Let’s be creative, and let's also not be scared to try different things and learn from our mistakes. And let’s turn Cape Town’s public spaces into vibrant, globally competitive destinations that are alive with culture, activity, and life—day and night.