Public Spaces and its Social and Cultural Value

Public spaces can have both Social and Cultural values in the community or city. Public spaces are able to bridge the gap between art, sculpture, local craftsmanship and play (DADA & Projects and Dean Arlen). It brings together many aspects of social interaction between the users and the environment. Public spaces are open to all, regardless of ethnic origin, age or gender, and as such represent a democratic forum for citizens and society (H. Woodley and Sian Rose, 2003). A space which is designed and cared for efficiently are capable of breaking down social barriers and can foster a more unified community. It also forms the basis of cultural identity in these areas and provides a sense of place for the community. The space is now able to accommodate cultural activities which assist in the cohesiveness of the community. There is now cultural integration and understanding, because using a public space to conduct various activities means that those of a different cultural background can now be exposed to these activities and may be inclined to participate in them. 

Image 1 Showing a Statue of Mahatma Gandhi on Harris Promenade

Image 2 Showing the Carpark and Main Stage in Rio Claro

There are two images presented before you, both reflecting the potential social and cultural values of the each community. Image 1 shows a picture of Mahatma Gandhi on Harris Promenade, which is adorned with garlands which bares great significance in Hinduism. Mahatma Gandhi was a great spiritual leader and not only has he impacted on Hindus but all ethnicities. The man dressed in white in the picture is a  Hindu Pundit, and they were making offerings to the statue. This clearly depicts the cultural aspect of this public space, passers-by can stop, ask questions etc. about what is being done and become enlightened by the different culture. Image 2 shows the main stage in the Rio Claro carpark, here is were most events take place, cultural events as well as social events. The County Council of Rio Claro tries their best to maintain the town itself everyday, the place is usually clean. When the stage is not being used for events, it is used by individuals who are just lounging around or waiting for a taxi. You can see that there is an individual to the left of the stage who is sitting and utilizing the shade of the stage however to the center of the stage there was a homeless man sitting there whilst screaming to the abyss. This can sometimes be a deterrent for some people but he is one of the very few homeless persons who walk the streets of Rio Claro. The area creates an ideal spot for social and cultural integration. What do you think about these Public Spaces?

Food For Thought

Look at the above picture and think, would you sit there? 

While walking through San Fernando one day, I stumbled upon this image. Now it's not uncommon to see street dwellers/vagrants sitting on public benches, or in this case the bus stop. But then I thought about this blog and I realized that if it were me I wouldn't sit there, not next to him. We wonder why public spaces are under utilized and one reason might be because we carry this stigma against street dwellers and scorn anything associated with them. If we see them using any public facilities we turn around because we would rather not be near them. What then does this say about us? Could it be that our paranoia might be instrumental in the failure of public spaces? 

Something to think about...

Why are public places important?

Now that you have an idea of what a public space is, what is the importance of these spaces? Public spaces creates identity in an area, adds to economic, cultural and social value. In addition to these benefits, public spaces are also beneficial in helping the environment. Many public spaces has become icons in cities and countries and acts as a tourist attraction. For example the Eiffel Tower is representative of Paris, Central Park in New York and even Queens Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain Trinidad. Public places can also create identity within a community, it generates a sense of pride and ownership among the community members of the various groups. The economy is also boosted with public spaces, as it encourages entrepreneurship. Additionally public spaces increases property value in communities. The development of places such as libraries and museums not only provide aesthetics but also services to the community and city. Streets are designed to facilitate persons to walk safely on the sidewalk, encouraging the users to enjoy the flanerie. Green parks such as the Botanical Gardens, Port-of-Spain help the environment, it creates a green space aside from the ‘concrete jungle’ called development. It helps persons appreciate the natural habitat as well as provide a home for animals. It aids in the reduction of pollutants in the air. Public spaces (including high streets, street markets, shopping precincts, community centers, parks, playgrounds, and neighborhood spaces in residential areas) play a vital role in the social life of communities. They act as a ‘self-organising public service’, a shared resource in which experiences and value are created (Mean and Tims, 2005).

Harris Promenade, San Fernando

This photo above shows Harris Promenade in San Fernando, this is a space where persons can sit, relax, socialise etc. Here we can see the men using the benches provided to enjoy the busy afternoon, as you can see the traffic of cars behind them. There are also people sitting on the steps themselves, this can be an indication that not enough seats were available for them to sit or even that the empty ones were so poorly maintained that they were unable to sit. It is apparent that this area is not well maintained, you can see the fallen lamp-post. However there is the presence of trees and plants which provide shade for the users as well as increase the aesthetics of promenade. It is clear to that the space is fulfilling its functions however it needs to be better maintained to reach its full potential.

For more info:http://www.pps.org/reference/public_space_benefits/