The Importance of Public Spaces
Over the years I have become fascinated with the impactful nature public spaces has on the development of a healthy social structure. Public spaces and public meeting places is an essential place for people to engage in different styles of communication and the development of a sustainable community. When discussing public spaces, I mean areas that are open or shared by everyone such as: street markets, shopping areas, parks, and playgrounds etc.
When you are in a public space you notice the buzz around you. The interactions, the greetings, and the movements of the people. There is an understanding of the rules and etiquette that is unspoken in a public space. The energy people have seem to transfer to those around them when they are in a busy street scene or a sense of tranquility when in a relaxing park. Public spaces allow for the opportunity for public engagement by organizations and people to display their awareness of that specific community.
There is an opportunity to display their culture and their identity, this can be seen in places that actively promote community engagement. Young adults are provided with an opportunity to learn and be aware of the diversity and differences when in public spaces. A simple act such as the greeting of a friend or loved one shows the creativity and trust that people have with one another when in a public and open environment. I have become fascinated with the level of creativity people have when saying hello to someone or the dance that happens when people are engaged with a stranger as they try to navigate that space. You know the dance; the dance of side stepping, the shoulder shimmy and the head bobbing. Often times both parties laugh at what has just occurred, it is a sight to behold. These are small acts of interactions that happen in public spaces that builds trust and awareness.
There are steps that have been taken to allow for these interactions to happen. The work of the architect, the urban designer, or the construction workers are important to facilitate the use of that space. But what makes it truly remarkable is how the people have adopted that space, how they have used that space to make it their own. They follow an unwritten rule that allows for all to use that space as a form of social engagement. Development work relies heavily on how space is used, how people use that space on a daily basis, and what are the unwritten rules that people use to ensure that space is used properly.
The promotion of respect, not only of the space, but also of the people that use that space. There are workers that ensure that space is kept clean and unobstructed. There is a rhythm that occurs in public spaces, there is a form of communication that allows for a healthy community to build a level of trust and respect. I have noticed a pattern of how public spaces drives communication and engagement. There is a sense of joy when people see each other using that public space, it has to be an inclusive space in order to have a healthy community.