Helping People Improve Their Communities, One Place at a Time
Cities around the world are recognizing that safe, well-used public spaces are just as important to healthy communities as quality housing and reliable transportation. To remain a globally competitive city, Chicago must continue to sustain and enhance all of its public areas. Placemaking Chicago supports the creation and care of public spaces across Chicagoland through policy advocacy, close collaboration with public agencies and elected officials, direct outreach to residents and community organizations, and an active social media and online presence. Through Placemaking Chicago, MPC helps create and enhance public spaces that bring people together and foster healthier, more social, and economically viable communities.
Placemaking Chicago fact sheet
Watch this short video to learn more about Placemaking.
Technical Assistance
Placemaking Chicago provides technical assistance to communities around Chicago. Read about our work to transform the Polish Triangle in the Wicker Park neighborhood, and to engage residents in planning for the proposed CTA Red Line extension on Chicago's South Side.
Advocacy
Safe streets are some of our most valuable public spaces. The Pedestrian Safety Bill makes streets safer by clarifying the responsibility of pedestrians and drivers. With your support, this bill passed through the Senate and was signed by Gov. Quinn this summer.
Collaboration with city agencies
This year, Placemaking Chicago strengthened its partnership with the city by partnering with the Chicago Dept. of Transportation on a series of Complete Streets workshops, the Dept. of Zoning and Land Use Planning on a Placemaking workshop, and hosting a public roundtable on pedestrian friendly public spaces.
Multimedia
Placemaking at the Polish Triangle-
- Publication
- (21 MB)
- July 7, 2010
- In 2009, MPC teamed up with WPB (the Special Service Area for Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods) to transform the Polish Triangle, located at the intersection of Division Street, Ashland Avenue, and Milwaukee Avenue, into a well-used public space. Through an online network group, online…
Talking the Walk: The Importance of Pedestrian Friendly Public Spaces-
- Listen to MPC's April 21, 2010, "Talking the Walk" roundtable, featuring Sam Schwartz, Mike Toolis, and John Tolva discuss how cities around the world are promoting walkable, safe streets; what Chicago is doing to plan for and design quality streetscapes; and how pedestrians are leading the way to…
Placemaking Chicago-
- Video
- (2:05)
- September 4, 2009
- A short video on Placemaking, produced in August 2008 by Metropolitan Planning Council and Tu Multimedia.
- The Micro Revolution: Neighbors Making a Difference - Part 2
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- At this MPC roundtable luncheon, Chicagoland residents shared their experiences bringing about positive changes in their school communities, by forging partnerships between parents and school administrators to improve public education and encourage community renewal.
- The Micro Revolution: Neighbors Making a Difference
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- At this MPC roundtable luncheon, Jay Walljasper, author of The Great Neighborhood Book and senior fellow at Project for Public Spaces, discussed lessons learned from real-life stories of successful neighbor-driven improvements. He moderated a panel of motivated residents from the Chicago area who…
More related multimedia »
Links
- Reconnecting America
- Reconnecting America is a national nonprofit working to integrate transportation systems and the communities they serve, with the goal of generating lasting public and private returns, improving economic and environmental efficiency, and giving consumers more housing and mobility choices. More info »
- Streetsblog
- Streetsblog is a daily news source, online community, and political mobilizer for the worldwide Livable Streets movement, working to transform our cities by reducing dependence on private automobiles and improving conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and transit riders. More info »
- Project for Public Spaces
- Project for Public Spaces is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities. Founded in 1975, PPS has become an internationally recognized center for best practices, information, and resources about Placemaking. MPC partnered with PPS to create “A Guide to Neighborhood Placemaking in Chicago.” More info »
More related links »
It's time to vote for the best undiscovered public space in the region! Visit PlacemakingChicago.com by Sept.10 to cast your vote.
Visit the Placemaking Chicago web site, Chicagoland’s hub for information about Placemaking, to download the free “Guide to Neighborhood Placemaking in Chicago.”
Every month, Placemaking Chicago uncovers true stories about the region's great spaces. Check out this month's story on the Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Collaborators
Partners
Project for Public Spaces, New York, NY
Funders
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Prince Charitable Trusts
