Engaged Opportunity Grants
Public Streets: Design Strategies for Urban Public Spaces
Reimagining public spaces in cities that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
As cities reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for de-densified public space that provides access to respite, culture and civic engagement, especially for seniors and children in low-income neighborhoods. During the pandemic, cities have expanded pedestrian spaces for social distancing by closing streets to car traffic. In summer 2020, New York City closed 100 miles of streets for pedestrians, however high heat, exposed surfaces and a lack of shade make many of these spaces inhospitable for public use.
In collaboration with Street Lab, the NYC Department of Transportation, NYC cultural institutions and other local partners, this project team is developing deployable design strategies and community-oriented programs to transform city streets into active, sustainable and supportive public spaces.
Topics: Access, Equity and Justice; Arts, Communication, Media and Design; Children, Youth, Seniors and Families; Health, Nutrition and Medicine
The Team
-
Meejin Yoon, Gale and Ira Drukier Dean
College of Architecture, Art and Planning
-
Alexander Kobald, Department of Architecture
College of Architecture, Art and Planning
- Community partner: Street Lab
Engaged Opportunity Grants
Supporting a wide range of community-engaged learning projects, from student leadership programs and partnership building to events and conference travel. Open to all faculty and staff.