MPC continued its collaboration with the Project for Public Spaces (PPS) this fall by hosting two Placemaking workshops, releasing A Guide to Neighborhood Placemaking in Chicago, and launching the Placemaking Chicago Web site (www.placemakingchicago.com), an information hub for Placemaking in theChicago region.
On Oct. 23 and 24, MPC, PPS and the Quad Communities Development Corporation co-hosted the workshops, which were geared toward community groups and government agencies. Workshop attendees discussed the fundamentals of creating community-planned and programmed public places in metropolitan Chicago. Sam Strain from Chicago Ald. Bob Fioretti’s (2nd Ward) office attended the workshop on Oct. 24 to learn techniques for proceeding with the alderman’s plans to expand the number of public spaces in his ward. “Just in the past hour, listening to the [presentations and discussions], I’ve gained more ideas about how to go about this project than ever before,” Strain said. “I hope to start the community process based off models I’m learning right now.”
MPC also launched www.placemakingchicago.com, a Web site with Placemaking information and tools including:
• descriptions of Placemaking by PPS and MPC,
• a short video on Placemaking,
• A Guide to Neighborhood Placemaking in Chicago, available online or as a download,
• useful forms to help define a Placemaking plan, available for download, and
• case studies of Placemaking in action from the Chicago region – updated regularly.
A Guide to Neighborhood Placemaking in Chicago is a guidebook for anyone interested in trying Placemaking in their community. The guidebook highlights the importance of great public spaces and includes a step-by-step guide that walks readers through defining and implementing a Placemaking project. It also tells inspiring stories of people in the region who have transformed their neighborhoods. Check out www.placemakingchicago.com to download the guidebook!
For additional information on Placemaking in Chicago, please contact Karin Sommer at (312) 863-6044 or ksommer@metroplanning.org.
