Around the world, successful public spaces have four key qualities in common:

  • They are accessible.
  • People are engaged in activities there.
  • The space is comfortable and has a good image.
  • It is a sociable place - where people meet each other and take people when they come to visit.

Qualities of a successful space (PDF, 174 KB, 1 p.)This document provides a diagram of the how you can assess the qualities of a successful space according to these criteria:

  • Sociability - how the community are using this space and whether it is perceived as inclusive or exclusive
  • Users and activities - find out how people are using the park, what’s working, what’s not working and ideas for the future.
  • Access and linkages - assess the impact of changed traffic conditions and reduced parking on residents, the school and local businesses.
  • Comfort and image - find out current perceptions of safety, cleanliness and comfortability of the park for users as well as impact on adjacent residences.

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