Public Spaces Tool
Record the place you visit (name/identification)______
Day and time visited: ______
To assess your public space, use these categories to analyze the different aspects, and respond as indicated.
- Places to sit
- How many chairs/benches/tables? ______
- Are they spread out throughout the space, or clustered together? ______
- Height
- No higher than average waist?
- Barriers to seating
- Any stones or slants?
- Is there a way to adapt to the barrier?
- Width
- Is there space for people on either side of the seating areas?______
- Are there movable seats?
- Do people willingly move the seats?
- How many people can sit in the moveable seats?
- Water
- Is it permissible to play in the water?
- Is it permissible to wade in?
- Does it provide a soothing “sound effect?”
- Public art
- Is it interactive?
- Are you able to sit on it / touch it?
- Is it accessible?
- Is it no more than 3 feet elevated or recessed by stairs from ground level?
- Open Space
- Is there a fair amount of open space?
- Is there lots of green space/ hard space?
- Some people may be drawn for certain activities in certain areas
- Are there areas for sporting?
- Are there areas for picnicking?
- Are there areas for small children?
- Trees: Rate each on a scale from 1-10.
- Are they older?
- Do they provide shade and cover in hot weather?
- Are they organized into groves or bunched haphazardly?
- Aesthetically pleasing?
- How much of the space is shaded by trees?
- Food / Vendors
- Seating for the vendor?
- Seating (formal and informal) for the public?
- Accessibility
- Is it easily accessible to the public?
- Can you walk to the public space? Is transportation nearby? Bike accessibility?
- Is it a high traffic area?
- Is it easily visible?
- Is the public space occupied by people?
- People like to go where other people are
- Sociability. Rate on a scale from 1-10.
- Can you enjoy the space either alone?
- Can you enjoy the space in groups?
- Are people socializing?
- Do groups of people tend to stay close to each other or are they far apart?
- Are you drawn to the public space?
- Do people seem to be meeting one another in the space?
- Is it accepting of many different groups? (Children, elderly, varying social classes, race, etc.)
- Time of Day
- When are people most likely to be in the public space?
- Night or day?
- Does the public place “close”
- Vicinity
- What is around the space? Classify (circle) and Describe.
Houses Apartments Small Businesses School Factory/Big shopping ctr
Church Public Bldgs Private land without houses Warehouses
______ - Are there areas to play and exercise?
- Large grassy areas?
- Interactive play equipment?
- Basketball courts, tennis courts, etc.
- Areas to run?
- Cleanliness: Rate on a scale from 1-10.
- Is the place clean?
- Is it being actively cleaned (do you see people cleaning it)?
- How accessible are the trash cans?
- How bad a problem is litter?
- Decorations?
- Banners, flags, flowerbeds, etc? ______