It has been nearly half a century since Jane Jacobs wrote The Death and Life of Great American Cities, and three years since she died. What she wrote and spoke about has never been more relevant than it is now, as cities all over the world grow in population. With that growth comes a broader recognition of the significance of bringing “people and activities together in a jumping, joyous urban jungle” (Douglas Martin, a New York-based journalist, wrote this in the New York Times after Jacobs’ death).
It makes sense that if we are going to live together, we need to find ways to interact positively. Naturally, there is no expectation of people running around being joyous all the time; however, a good public space is an invitation for citizens to relax, enjoy and take part in their surroundings. From the Athenian agora to the contemporary city park or common, isn’t valuing our public spaces one of the most basic expressions of democracy?
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