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.

  1. Places to sit
  2. How many chairs/benches/tables? ______
  3. Are they spread out throughout the space, or clustered together? ______
  4. Height
  5. No higher than average waist?
  6. Barriers to seating
  7. Any stones or slants?
  8. Is there a way to adapt to the barrier?
  9. Width
  10. Is there space for people on either side of the seating areas?______
  11. Are there movable seats?
  12. Do people willingly move the seats?
  13. How many people can sit in the moveable seats?
  14. Water
  15. Is it permissible to play in the water?
  16. Is it permissible to wade in?
  17. Does it provide a soothing “sound effect?”
  18. Public art
  19. Is it interactive?
  20. Are you able to sit on it / touch it?
  21. Is it accessible?
  22. Is it no more than 3 feet elevated or recessed by stairs from ground level?
  23. Open Space
  24. Is there a fair amount of open space?
  25. Is there lots of green space/ hard space?
  26. Some people may be drawn for certain activities in certain areas
  27. Are there areas for sporting?
  28. Are there areas for picnicking?
  29. Are there areas for small children?
  30. Trees: Rate each on a scale from 1-10.
  31. Are they older?
  32. Do they provide shade and cover in hot weather?
  33. Are they organized into groves or bunched haphazardly?
  34. Aesthetically pleasing?
  35. How much of the space is shaded by trees?
  36. Food / Vendors
  37. Seating for the vendor?
  38. Seating (formal and informal) for the public?
  1. Accessibility
  2. Is it easily accessible to the public?
  3. Can you walk to the public space? Is transportation nearby? Bike accessibility?
  4. Is it a high traffic area?
  5. Is it easily visible?
  6. Is the public space occupied by people?
  7. People like to go where other people are
  8. Sociability. Rate on a scale from 1-10.
  9. Can you enjoy the space either alone?
  10. Can you enjoy the space in groups?
  11. Are people socializing?
  12. Do groups of people tend to stay close to each other or are they far apart?
  13. Are you drawn to the public space?
  14. Do people seem to be meeting one another in the space?
  15. Is it accepting of many different groups? (Children, elderly, varying social classes, race, etc.)
  16. Time of Day
  17. When are people most likely to be in the public space?
  18. Night or day?
  19. Does the public place “close”
  20. Vicinity
  21. 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
    ______
  22. Are there areas to play and exercise?
  23. Large grassy areas?
  24. Interactive play equipment?
  25. Basketball courts, tennis courts, etc.
  26. Areas to run?
  27. Cleanliness: Rate on a scale from 1-10.
  28. Is the place clean?
  29. Is it being actively cleaned (do you see people cleaning it)?
  30. How accessible are the trash cans?
  31. How bad a problem is litter?
  32. Decorations?
  33. Banners, flags, flowerbeds, etc? ______