Streets, sidewalks and cycling lanes, squares, parks, waterfronts, gardens, courtyards, and other public facilities, are all part of what we define as public space. Well-functioning cities have around 50% of the surface area dedicated to public space. Unfortunately, few cities around the world meet this target. Lack of quality public spaces reduces urban quality of life, increasing crime, social tensions, health and congestion.
Launched in 2012, UN-Habitat’s Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) has supported cities to take actions for safe, inclusive, and accessible public spaces for all. It has tirelessly promoted the crucial role of green and quality public spaces in cities, acting as an enabler for social justice, prosperity, and environmental change.
Over the last decade, we have completed 151 public space upgrading projects in over 100 different cities, impacting the lives of over 2.72 million people. The public spaces which were implemented have improved the well-being and health of our communities, while boosting social interaction and livelihoods.
The success of UN-Habitat’s public space programme is anchored in our wide network of local government, civil society, academia and private sector partners. And our public space regeneration projects are always completed in collaboration with local partners such as local government and civil society organisations.
After a successful decade of putting public space on the agenda, culminating in the achievement of making SDG 11.7 universally measurable, we are now looking toward new horizons to further scale public space work globally.
Through regional public space and placemaking networks, UN-Habitat will further engage with and support communities to take action towards reclaiming and transforming public spaces. We are mainstreaming the successes of the programme through the decentralising of our network to be even more fit for the future.
This Global Public Space Network will encourage a wider range of actors to act on public space as a way of achieving sustainable development. Our ongoing dialogue will focus on how innovative approaches to public space are implemented among multi-stakeholder partners, UN-Habitat country and regional offices, and wider UN agencies, which all form a global public space network.
To further strengthen the Global Public Space Network, we invite you to formally join us as a member of the network. Simply sign our Letter of Intent and send it back to us. Also sign up for our newsletter, share your details and nominate new partners to the network by filling our sign-up form.