PUBLIC SPACE ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A HEALTHY, HAPPY CITY Vanessa Trowell , Advocacy Manager Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) [email protected] Public space defines a city. It is where we meet, celebrate, gather, play, stay active, and travel. Public spaces are our shared living places. The importance of public space is inherently connected to the importance of the ‘public’. The provision of accessible public space is critical not only to the life of our cities, but more importantly to a tolerant, diverse and inclusive society. The challenge is to ensure or to increase the ‘publicness’ of public space, as the elements of a city that promote shared meaning, sense of community and democracy. Through the use of public space, society benefits through increased interaction of a diversity of people, which in turn encourages greater social cohesion and promotes a sense of identity. Olmsted’s notion of public space as being a “social safety-valve” resonates strongly nearly 150 years after Central Park, New York was envisioned. Whilst we cannot be as naïve to think that public space can be completely inclusive, due to a complexity of issues including age, gender, socio-economic status and culture, there exists a notion of a universal public realm, at least in principle. It reflects a democratic notion of accessibility to and provision of, a resource available across society. Public space makes up at least 40% of urban environments and forms a spectrum that extends from the front door to streets, parks, open space, plazas, waterfronts, pedestrian and cycle paths and public transport infrastructure. NSW Government community consultation shows that the people rank open space as the third most critical topic, behind transport and housing for a liveable city. (Draft Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney 2013). “First life, then spaces, then buildings…” Jahn Gehl. Increased density, a focal issue in our cities, can be more sustainable and help meet growing infrastructure and service needs. However, with increased population and housing comes the greater need for quality, connected public space. To be an economically competitive city we must densify and be connected. This means treating public space as critical infrastructure - the life support for our cities. The term “infrastructure of opportunity” where green, grey and social infrastructure meets, is increasingly used in this context. Connected public space is supported by the NSW Governments Draft Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney which emphasises linking “…public spaces to form a green space network across Sydney...”. Public spaces must be treated as a connected network both physically and socially. Investment in public space plays a vital role in a community’s ability to attract businesses, create local jobs, and influence value. In our race to be a strong global city, we must not lose sight of the value public space as critical infrastructure, which would be a failure in planning our cities for the 21st centuryWe see encouraging moves with the Greater Sydney Commission indicating the necessary holistic approach to cities. The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) are working together to lead the discussion as to the value of public space. Public space is a public service and must support public life. When public debate rises over urban projects, the discussion is around public space, access, ownership. We see this reflected in Crown land, Bays Precinct and Barangaroo. The community consistently seeks public spaces that are not commodified, manufactured, restricted, ambiguous and generic in nature. There must be a genuine desire to improve the quality of (daily) life – liveability. Public space at its best has a key role in connection, identity, wellbeing and liveability, most especially in our increasingly dense and globalised cities. .