Welcome to week 2's edition of Pulse of Public Spaces, where we spotlight essential articles, reports, products and more - that drive urban development, engage communities, and support local municipalities in building thriving public spaces! Dive in to stay informed and inspired.
Feature Article of the Week
"For US cities in need of infrastructure, grant writers are required"
By Patrick Sisson
Federal funding is pouring in through the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and CHIPS Act, offering huge opportunities for local development, clean energy, and environmental justice. But smaller cities often miss out due to a lack of skilled grant writers. This is where the demand skyrockets—effective grant writing is key to unlocking these transformative funds. Programs like the Justice40 Initiative and support from organizations like Bloomberg Philanthropies are stepping in to help. With the right skills and support, securing these grants can drive significant economic growth, job creation, and infrastructure improvements, especially in disadvantaged communities. The potential for long-term impact is immense, making grant writing a crucial skill for municipalities to thrive.
Smaller cities often miss out on federal funding that is pouring in, due to a lack of skilled grant writers.
Read the whole article here by Bloomberg CityLab
Feature Publication of the Week
Global Public Spaces Toolkit
Published by UN Habitat
The Global Public Spaces Toolkit is a valuable resource for anyone looking to create vibrant, inclusive public spaces that people love and use every day. It focuses on creating public spaces that are open, safe, and welcoming for everyone. It is aimed at helping city planners, local leaders, and communities design and maintain great public areas. It covers everything from involving the community in planning to using innovative designs that address challenges like climate change and overcrowding. Packed with real-life examples from around the world, this toolkit shows how thoughtful public spaces can boost community spirit, drive economic growth, and make cities more resilient and sustainable.
Access the publication here
Feature Visual (that caught our eye!)
Credits to California Early Start
An easy way for communities moving to a new neighbourhood to get started in finding resources
Featured Public Space
US-Mexico's Pink Seesaws (cross border)
How much time do you have? An hour? A day? Would 40 minutes work?
This weekʼs featured public space is one that you cant find anymore, but briefly embodied the principles of successful public spaces such as accessibility, inclusivity, culturally significant and strong engagement with communities. In a fleeting yet powerful act of guerrilla urbanism, a series of pink seesaws appeared on the U.S - Mexico border, capturing global attention for a mere 40 minutes in July 2019. Conceived by artists Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, these seesaws transformed the imposing steel barrier into a vibrant playground, poetically bridging the divide with laughter and joy. Children and adults from both sides of the border came together, their movements synchronized, turning a symbol of separation into one of transient unity and connection. This temporary public space wasn't just about play—it was a statement on the power of human interaction and the shared desire for connection across divides. The pink seesaws exemplified how creative interventions can momentarily dissolve barriers, foster empathy and solidarity, and leaving a lasting impression on all who took part in this unique experience.
Read more: Design of the year
Stay tuned for next week's Pulse of Public Spaces for more insights and inspiration!
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