Benches and greenery may seem inconsequential, but a new study quantifies how deeply they impact the civic life of a city.
It’s easy to make our cities attractive. Plant a few flowers, pick up litter, put up a sculpture or two. But cosmetic improvements don’t necessarily translate to meaningful change to public spaces. There’s very little research on how urban design affects issues like equitable access, civic responsibility, civic pride, and informed voting–four of the biggest challenges facing cities today, according to the Center for Active Design (CAD), a nonprofit that explores the intersection of design and public health.