Project For Public Spaces

What does resilience look like in practice? In Detroit, it looks like public spaces. 🏙️ We just dropped a preview of 7 outstanding places in Detroit to be featured at the 5th International #PlacemakingWeek! From a legendary food market to a beloved riverfront, these gems have stories worth hearing. ⚠️ Early registration closes March 30 — our last Placemaking Week sold out, so don't wait! Tap the link in our bio and today's stories to explore the spaces putting Detroit on the global placemaking map — then grab your spot! 🔗 /article/sneak-peek-seven-detroit-experiences-at-placemaking-week-2026 📷 ‍Campus Martius Park @downtowndet 📷 Michigan Central, our Placemaking Week Venue Partner @michigancentraldetroit @newlab 📷 ‍Belle Isle @belleisleconservancy @michigandnr 📷 ‍Eastern Market @easternmarket 📷 ‍‍Fitzgerald’s Civic Commons @live6alliance @civiccommonsus 📷 ‍Reimagining New Center @designcoredet @midtowndetroit @ccs_detroit ‍📷 Detroit’s Riverfront @detroitriverfront #PlacemakingWeek #Detroit #Placemaking #PublicSpaces #DowntownDet #DowntownDetroit #WeMakeItHappenTogether

⏰ It’s your last chance to register for “How to Create Successful Markets,” an on-demand course from Project for Public Spaces and your step-by-step guide to building thriving, community-centered public markets. Registration closes this Thursday, May 14 at 11:59pm ET. Through topic-focused modules, global market video tours, hands-on activities, and office hours, you’ll walk away with the tools to launch or revitalize a market that truly serves your community. AICP credits available. Once registration closes, you’ll have flexible on-demand access from May 15–July 15. Don’t wait—link in bio and today’s stories to sign up! 🔗 /events/how-to-create-successful-markets-on-demand 📷 FUNchitecture @flintfarmersmarket @essexmarket

📣 We’re thrilled to announce that 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗶𝘁, 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻, 𝗨𝗦𝗔, will host the 𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 from 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟰-𝟮𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲! We’re excited to work with our local co-host @downtowndet to welcome #PlacemakingWeek attendees to discover the culture, charm, and creativity of “Renaissance City”! 🔗 More at our link in bio and stories! We’ll be sharing more information in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for our Call for Proposals in October. In the meantime, save the dates! Placemaking Week is a global gathering that brings together placemakers from every corner of the world to connect, learn, and leave a lasting public space legacy. From hands-on workshops to inspiring social events, it’s where ideas come to life—locally and globally. 🏷️ Who do you want to go with? Tag your #Placemaking besties! 👇 #Detroit #Placemaking #PublicSpaces #DowntownDet #DowntownDetroit #WeMakeItHappenTogether

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: A network of 1,200 markets. Four billion euros in annual turnover. And something even harder to measure: a renewed sense of belonging. Fondazione Campagna Amica @fondazionecampagnamica has built a nationwide network connecting urban consumers with rural farmers—and in doing so, is building a regional community one market at a time. Our recent article, the first in a series, explores how 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 & 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 through Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Urban and Rural Linkages, and Neighborhood Economic Activity. We take a close look at three real-world examples. 🔗 Link in bio and in today’s stories. /article/impacts-of-market-cities-how-market-cities-build-inclusive-diverse-economies The framework was developed with members of the Market Cities Network’s policy affinity group to create a compelling way to advocate for public markets as essential community infrastructure. Future articles in this series will explore the two other major impact areas of the Market Cities framework. 📷 Credit: Fondazione Campagna Amica 📷 The diagram captures the three core impacts Market Cities deliver: Inclusive & Diverse Economies, Social Connection & Wellbeing, and Climate Action & Resilience. This impact diagram and framework were created in collaboration with members of the Market Cities Network’s policy affinity group. Credit: Project for Public Spaces @pps_placemaking @worldfarmersmarketscoalition #MarketCities #MarketCitiesNetwork #PublicMarkets

⛲️🌳 #PlacemakingWeek Highlight: With 982 acres, Belle Isle is the largest urban island park in the U.S. and it's right in Detroit's backyard. 🌿 @belleisleconservancy is one of many organizations leading a guided workshop on Day 1 of the conference. Join them to explore how to balance stewardship, access, and belonging in one of America's most treasured parks. We dropped a preview of 7 outstanding places in Detroit to be featured at the 5th International PlacemakingWeek! 🔗 Read More at the link in our bio and today’s stories. /article/sneak-peek-seven-detroit-experiences-at-placemaking-week-2026 ❗Planning on joining us in Detroit this June? Secure your spot—we have a VERY limited number of tickets left! 📷 Belle Isle. Courtesy @belleisleconservancy @visitdetroit @downtowndet #Detroit #Michigan #Placemaking #WeMakeItHappenTogether #BelleIsle #DetroitsBackyard

💬 "The course allowed me to immediately apply concepts into the planning for our upcoming summer market…I found this course to be extremely helpful and enjoyed learning from and connecting with peers from around the world." — Samantha McGinnis, Director of BTV Market, @LoveBurlington ⏰ Apply concepts right away! It's your last chance to register for "How to Create Successful Markets," an on-demand course from Project for Public Spaces and your step-by-step guide to building thriving, community-centered public markets. Registration closes on May 14 at 11:59pm ET. Through topic-focused modules, global market video tours, hands-on activities, and office hours, you'll walk away with the tools to launch or revitalize a market that truly serves your community. AICP credits are available! Registrants have flexible on-demand access from May 15–July 15. Don't wait—sign up at the link in our bio and today's stories! 🔗 /events/how-to-create-successful-markets-on-demand 📷 Slide 1: BTV Market in Burlington, Vermont @loveburlington . Credit: @sammydepthphoto 📷 Slide 2: Essex Market in New York, NY. Courtesy: @essexmarket #MarketCities #PublicMarkets #FarmersMarkets #MainStreets

I am so excited to finally announce my newest project: “Brave Wilds,” an 8,300 sq ft asphalt mural for Leverett Elementary School in Fayetteville! This piece is an imaginative take on Ozark natural environments, blending movement-based games and positive affirmations into the school’s existing bike loop and play area lines. Shout-out to the students in the visionary club, their love for fish inspired the aquatic center of the design, and the Leverett lion watching over. I am truly honored to create a vibrant space that will shape the daily play and lasting childhood memories of Leverett students for years to come. 🥹 This project is made possible by a grant from @pps_placemaking and the @waltonfamilyfdn . Thank you for the trust and the opportunity to bring such a special project to life! Be brave, be kind, dream big! 💖 Install begins next month! 🌱🐛✨🦋🌼🐢🌷 #muralist #groundmural #arkansas #arkansasartist

⛲️🌳 #PlacemakingWeek Highlight: Once the world’s tallest train station, Michigan Central @michigancentraldetroit sat vacant for decades—but now Ford’s vision of Detroit as a global hub is reimagining it as a 30-acre innovation campus where entrepreneurs and engineers are shaping the future of mobility. 🚉✨ We’re grateful that this iconic Detroit landmark is a Venue Partner for Placemaking Week! Attendees have the opportunity to explore the campus on a mobile workshop—including Newlab Detroit @newlab , new public green spaces, and a future multimodal transit hub—then return for a plenary and breakout sessions on Day 2. We dropped a preview of 7 outstanding places in Detroit to be featured at the 5th International PlacemakingWeek! From a legendary food market to a beloved riverfront, these gems have stories worth hearing. 🔗 Read More at the link in our bio and today’s stories. /article/sneak-peek-seven-detroit-experiences-at-placemaking-week-2026 📷 Michigan Central, our Placemaking Week Venue Partner @downtowndet #MichiganCentral #Detroit #Placemaking #WeMakeItHappenTogether

Paige Hammond @paigesters , a community builder in 📍Shorewood, Wisconsin, began inviting women to her backyard sauna as a way to establish genuine human connection among her neighbors. What started as a simple invitation on Facebook grew into the Shorewood Women's Social, a network of low-pressure, in-person gatherings held across the neighborhood in both public and private spaces. Her experience taught her that community doesn't require institutional planning—it just takes one person willing to open their door and others willing to walk through it. Read her story in the latest article at the link in our profile and today's stories: /article/a-womens-social-movement-that-started-with-a-sauna At Project for Public Spaces, we had the honor of working with Paige, who is the Marketing & Communications Manager at Milwaukee Public Market @milwaukeepublicmarket , which was the co-host of the 12th International Public Markets Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2025. 📷 Women gathered at Paige Hammond's backyard sauna. Credit: Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel @journalsentinel 📷 Paige's initiative gains steam! Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on her inspiring story. Courtesy: Paige Hammond 📷 A park walk get-together. Courtesy: Paige Hammond 📷 Paige received a hand-written note of gratitude from a newly made friend. Courtesy: Paige Hammond 📷 Paige in her backyard. Courtesy: Paige Hammond

Learn from the best in the field! Our "How to Create Successful Markets" training brings together a diverse network of global public market professionals whose real-world insights are woven throughout the curriculum to cover the essentials of creating thriving, economically sustainable public markets that serve as inclusive community gathering places. 🔗 Link in bio and today's stories: /events/how-to-create-successful-markets-on-demand Our guest speakers are: Sensasi Boney - Projects Officer, Advocates for Public Spaces Amanda Edmonds - Consultant & Researcher, Beehive Strategies Tran Thi Kieu Thanh Ha - Livable Cities Project Manager, @healthbridgecan Mandy Moody - CEO, Odeo Consulting David K. O'Neil @market.polo - International Public Market Consultant Marina Queirolo @queirolomarina - Economic Development Officer, City of Toronto Cara Mae Wooledge, MPH - Executive Director, Napa Farmers Market @napafarmersmkt Participants are also invited to participate in two live office hour sessions—a unique opportunity to connect directly with core Market Cities speakers, Kelly Verel, Co-Executive Director and Kurt Wheeler, Senior Program Manager, and engage with fellow attendees from around the world. This on-demand training is available May 15 through July 15, 2026, and offers over six hours of flexible, self-paced content covering everything from vendor management and fundraising basics to long-term resilience and placemaking. AICP credits are available, and registration closes May 14—don't wait to secure your spot!

Saratoga Plaza sits at the start of the Purple People Bridge off Third Street, where transit, trails, and community meet. With easy access for buses, shuttles, and cyclists, it’s a natural trailhead and meeting point. Now, it’s time to reimagine the space into something more. Last week, as part of our first workshop with Project for Public Spaces, we explored the area and began envisioning what this space could become. Now we want to hear from you: what would you love to see in this space?

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: What if a cupcake business became the spark for 267 entrepreneurs? That’s the story of Mother Road Market @motherroadmarket in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Kitchen 66’s @kitchen66tulsa incubator model turned a food hall into a full launchpad for small businesses. Our latest article, “𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 & 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀,” explores how markets like this one are engines of entrepreneurship & innovation. 🔗 Link in bio and today’s stories: /article/impacts-of-market-cities-how-market-cities-build-inclusive-diverse-economies 📷 Mother Road Market in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Credit: Valerie Wei-Haas, Courtesy Mother Road Market 📷 The diagram captures the three core impacts Market Cities deliver: Inclusive & Diverse Economies, Social Connection & Wellbeing, and Climate Action & Resilience. This impact diagram and framework were created in collaboration with members of the Market Cities Network’s policy affinity group. Credit: Project for Public Spaces @pps_placemaking 📷 Inclusive and Diverse Economies take shape within Market Cities through three interconnected benefits: Urban & Rural Linkages, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Neighborhood Economic Activity. Credit: Project for Public Spaces @pps_placemaking #MarketCities #MarketCitiesNetwork #PublicMarkets #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurs