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Articles by Fred Kent
Remembering Kathy: Her Life and The Vision We Shared
In Loving Memory of Kathy Madden First Anniversary of Her Passing · October 20th, 2026 A Tribute by Fred Kent She had a happy, fulfilling life. A remarkable person: a grandmother, a wife, a lover, a leader of the Placemaking Movement, a spirit with many dimensions. We all miss her. Kathy’s hand written letter: Jan 29, 2006 "These are my intentions in terms of any money that I have and how I want it to be used in the future.
The Only Good Corner in Midtown: How and Why Bryant Park's NW Corner Stands Out
After decades of improving traffic capacity in Midtown, Manhattan – designing streets and intersections for cars instead of pedestrians – we now have a district that has become characterized by vehicles and traffic. While car-centrism is gradually being lifted with the implementation of new pedestrian-friendly policies like congestion pricing, Midtown's street infrastructure has yet to catch up.
Plants vs. Place: Leveraging Landscaping for Better Public Spaces
From Plantings That Privatize to Landscaping That Supports Public Life "There is no there there." In our work, we say this to communicate that there is no place in a space. There is land but nothing happening on it – nothing to see, do, or experience. This is the kind of environment that too much landscape architecture creates – spaces that are nice to look at but that lack destinations worth spending time in. But what exactly is landscape architecture?
Why We Need Tree-Guard Benches
One of the best things to happen to our Brooklyn neighborhood in recent years was a bench. Yes, a bench. A square, four directional bench built as a guard around a tree on a busy corner. It quickly became a social hotspot and transformed our principal street overnight. It inspired the creation of more benches like it all along the block. Collectively, they created social hubs that gave our neighborhood newfound vibrancy. Then, NYC Parks removed many of them. And for their replacement?
In these complicated times where it feels like problems and crises are hiding around every corner, we are in desperate need of joy. Joy is an escape from stress, a source of hope, a delight for life. Alas, it is what makes living worthwhile. Especially when it is a challenge to find joy at work, home, or in the news, we seek it in the world outside our front doors. The public realm is where we go to look for joy. In great public places is where it can be found.
Brooklyn Is Digging Its Own Grave with Waterfront Designs That Kill Public Life
Every new development seems to be going deeper and deeper into creating a waterfront that drives people away instead of bringing them together, and it keeps getting worse. Brooklyn waterfront in 1874 (Brooklyn Bridge is pictured but was not inaugurated until 1883) Our waterfront's history was full of life. The city's waterfront was revered around the world as the center of commerce in 1875. Now, it's a dull and uninspiring collection of berms, rip rap, and empty green space.
How the Power of 10+ Can Be a Powerful Tool to Build Your Community's Future
To inspire people to leave their homes and go outside, a city needs destinations that attract foot traffic, business activity, and social life. A destination is somewhere people like to end up after taking a walk or a bike ride – somewhere they linger and spend time, have a drink or do an activity, gather with friends and attend an event. Such places are the pillars of public life. They can include public squares, main streets, parks, cultural buildings, and more.
Gazebos, Bandstands, and Other Shade Structures - The Best Focal Points for Public Places?
The gazebo is one of the best amenities for squares, greens, and parks of all sizes. While we often talk about seating, kiosks, play areas and other amenities with more straightforward practical uses, the gazebo is a versatile and multi-functional amenity that has a unique ability to tie a space together. A gazebo is a kind of pavilion – a standalone covered structure that often has a characteristic octagonal shape.
How Small Buildings Can Seed Vitality in Public Places
Addingsmall buildings such as kiosks, sheds, or stalls to an empty space catalyzes activity. These flexible structures, with multiple uses, can become the anchors that define a space and act as its main focal points. As new structures and amenities pop up to take advantage of the visitation they attract, an unknown potential reveals itself. It may be the beginnings of what one day becomes a thriving square or market.
Reciprocal gestures and improvisation: how one small placemaking act can precipitate great places
Every placemaking act starts a chain reaction through the reciprocal gesture – the reflected act. For example, a single dining shed she can be a catalyst for the creation of another, slightly different, dining shed in front of a restaurant next door. Then that one can then inspire the outdoor dining area of another storefront nearby. Eventually, this chain reaction of inspired changes can lead to the entire transformation of a block, sidewalk, etc.
Delray Action Plan
To become the best place in Florida, does Delray Beach have to break all the rules? Probably. Delray Beach is a special place, but recent changes have pushed the community away from the village life that made this special place on the Florida's Southeast coast so unique. Rules about large intersections, garages, and wide roads have eroded the vibrant social life of Delray.
Social Life for All - How Interactive Sculptures Bring Us Together
A great sculpture has the power to really pull a space together. When designed with the intention to engage the public, it can become a focal point that attracts visitors of all ages and backgrounds and thus a staple of the community. "Let's meet at the ___ sculpture!" becomes a familiar phrase recognized far and wide. A unique, interactive sculpture can also bring out the best in us – eliciting wonder and joy – which infuses the public space with positive energy.
From Passive Parks to Pleasure Gardens: Transforming Underused Greenspace Into Beloved Destinations
At Social Life Project, we have nearly stopped using the term "park" when advocating for better public places, because most parks of today are not something to aspire to. More often than not, they are mere patches of greenspace with nothing there to experience, engage with, or enjoy. It is no wonder why so many of them remain empty, apart from the occasional dog walker or jogger. Who wants to spend time in a place where there is nothing to do?
Stockholm's Kungsträdgården - A Great Park is a "Playground for Everyone"
The Kungsträdgården in Stockholm is a fantastic example of how a great public place is one that is designed to be fun and welcoming for everyone. It is not meant to be merely something beautiful to look at – a series of monuments tied together by designer landscaping. Instead, its focus should be on the people – how they experience and enjoy the place, and what keeps them coming back.
Connecting Brooklyn, Manhattan and Governors Island Waterfronts to Create The Heart Of The Harbor for New York City In 1874, NYC was a booming waterfront city, one of the best in the world Introduction For the nearly 50 years we have lived in Brooklyn, the waterfront has not changed in meaningful ways. But Brooklyn is a very different city today than what it was 50 years ago. It has become the center of global creativity – a culture-laden hub with a multitude of influences from around the world.
Creative Placemaking - How Murals, Sculptures, and Public Art Inspire Social Life
When you explore a new city, what do you usually take photos of? Most likely, its beautiful sculptures, murals, and the like. We call the artistic expression that enriches the experience of being in cities "creative placemaking" — those elements that make a city beautiful, unique, and memorable and that are a reflection of the city's people. They often communicate something about the culture, values, or history of the place. They represent the character and background of the residents.
How Paris Breaks All the Rules to Be the Best City for People
"There are more and more of us fighting for a different vision of the world—a world that takes care of our most precious resources: the air we breathe, the water we drink and the places we share." — Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris In the 1960s and 70s, like many other cities, Paris experienced an automobile boom. Cars flooded the streets and began to dominate the city's best spaces. All around the world, designing for and around cars rapidly became the norm.
Finding Inspiration in Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens (Roji-en)
Inspiration for great public places can come from anywhere. Most recently, we found it in the Morikami Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida. These 16-acre gardens celebrate a long-lasting connection between Japan and Florida. The serenity that can be found there is nurtured by how the amenities and design features reflect the organic shapes and natural flow of the lands.
How Bryant Park Catalyzed the Transformation of Midtown Manhattan and Inspired Public Spaces Everywhere
Bryant Park sits at the epicenter of Midtown Manhattan on a block that also includes the iconic New York Public Library. Its transformation, unveiled in 1992, is an important story of a public space given a new lease on life through placemaking. The park has continued to evolve and improve over the decades since and has been foundational to the spread of the Placemaking Movement. Its journey from an undesirable space to the thriving heart of Midtown has inspired cities around the world.
Client Challenge
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A Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Strategy to make Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach the Best Main Street in Florida
Main Street Delray Beach Atlantic Avenue Untapping the Potential of Atlantic Avenue - by removing turn lanes at "Killer Intersections" and narrowing too wide roads to create the Main Street we need Downtown Atlantic Avenue is the most important street in Delray Beach. For most of it, starting at I95 there are six lanes with parking on both sides as it approaches the downtown core. This width ends with a "bang" at Swinton where it suddenly becomes a two lane road (one lane in each direction).
Reflecting on the 50th Year of the Placemaking Movement
2025 has been a year full of important moments for PlacemakingX and Social Life Project. We have reached key milestones and made great strides in expanding the Placemaking Movement. We have grown our thought leadership, presented our work at pivotal events, reflected on decades of impactful work, and hosted another Global Placemaking Summit. We have also suffered a deep loss with the passing of our co-founder, Kathy Madden.
Tipping Our Hats to Placemaking: Why Unique Headwear is an Indicator of a Great Public Place
Hats create places that brim with personality When we're out and about in the city, great hats always catch our eye. A colorful plume here, a quirky tilt there, hats have a unique way of capturing people's personality. Everything from their design to their size says something about who the wearer is and how they want to be perceived. They are channels for self-expression. As such, hats have always held a prominent place in defining historical eras and fashion trends.
What We Saw - How Kathy and I Worked Together
50 years seeing how places worked, or didn't After founding Project for Public Spaces, for 40+ years Kathy Madden and I worked together on the Placemaking movement, ultimately leading the Social Life Project which we formed in 2018. Many others joined us along the way and together we have been growing the movement globally, helping communities big and small create thriving public places. Kathy was the love of my life. She was my partner in everything we did.
Field Test for Analysis of Anionic Detergents in Well Waters
References 1 Task Group Report. Determination of Synthetic Detergent Contents of Raw Water Supplies. Jour. AWWA, 50: 1343 (Oct. 1958). 2 Synthetic Detergents in Well Waters. Public Health Repts., 75: 75 (1960). 3 Effect of Synthetic Detergents on the Ground Waters of Long Island, New York. Research Report No. 6, State Water Pollution Control Board, Albany, N.Y. (1960). 4 The Analysis of Synthetic Detergents. Analyst, 84: 77 (1959). 5 Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
Division is the Crisis of Our Times - Connecting in Public Places is How We Heal
There is no reason why we must accept the withering of social ties even as the world around us evolves. People have never abandoned their desire for convivial places to mingle with others. And over recent decades, a movement has emerged around the world to preserve and create the social spaces that play such a big role in fostering happiness.
Halifax - A Waterfront That Does It Well
Halifax, on Canada's northeast coast, offers a very strong example of a waterfront that is human scale and walkable, sporting a full range of public uses that attract large numbers of people year-round. The Halifax Harbourwalk is full of dozens of attractions, including landmarks, eateries, markets, dining options, playgrounds, hiking opportunities, and more. The density of things to do here is impressive and everyone can find a reason to visit, from art lovers to ferry boat enthusiasts.
Belfast, Maine - A Town of Proud, Engaged People
When people care about their community, they are invested in what happens to it. That means civic engagement, protests, and efforts to protect and improve their town at every scale. It also means that people enjoy being around their neighbors and are happy to attend community events like concerts, movie nights, and performances. Belfast really embodies that small town charm that makes a person feel like part of an extended family.
Why the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Development is Awful - Comparing It To Great Waterfronts Around the World
Brooklyn is not a great waterfront city on anyone's list. There is no vision, standout amenities, or significant destinations. Except for the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and Jane's Carousel which are landmarks that people marvel at. There is little at the waterfront to draw people in, especially compared to other great waterfronts around the world.
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces
Revisiting the newly restored classic film by William H. Whyte Seats are limited! In 2018, as we began to consider what we wanted to accomplish in the next chapter of our lives, we decided that one thing was to return to our roots, which began with William H. ("Holly") Whyte in the early 1970s, working on his Street Life Project. "The Social Life Project" name itself is, of course, an homage to his approach to studying how people actually use public spaces.
October 1st Screening: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 6:30pm - Doors open with light refreshments in the lobby 7pm - Screening 8pm - 8:45pm Panel Discussion & Q&A Location: Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003 In partnership with Anthology Film Archives (AFA) and Project for Public Space, the Social Life Project invites you to a special screening of Holly’s classic film The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces on Wednesday, October 1st—Holly Whyte's birthday! We are thrilled that the...
London's South Bank - A Waterfront Defined by Destinations
South Bank in London involves a series of distinct destinations connected by a promenade. The focus on the destinations is a main reason why this waterfront is such an interesting place to visit and spend time. The promenade weaves and winds around these important cultural and community institutions without a dominant design "motif," letting the destinations shine and keeping the experience dynamic.
Old School Square - The Heart and Soul of Delray Beach
Editor's note: This is a developing draft and will be added to as the work on Old School Square evolves. Old School Square in Delray Beach, Florida is easily one of the best square/market combinations in North America...when it is programmed. It has all of the pieces that, when activated effectively, would allow it to rank as one of the best public places in the country. We recently published a post on how squares are the hearts of communities and markets are their soul.
The Social Life of Cycling: How Bikes Can Propel Human Connection
Bikes open up the world to us in a way that cars don't. Cars get you from point A to point B, sealed up in a metal box and disconnected from the city outside. But bikes are both a mobility method and a social experience. When you're riding a bike, you can interact with the world around you, stop wherever you want if something or someone catches your eye, chat with your fellow cyclists as you ride, and go off route whenever you feel like it.
Brooklyn Maritime District: Privatizing Brooklyn's Waterfront vs. Paris' Approach of Creating the World's Best Waterfront Through Activation
Brooklyn is at a fork in the road where one direction will lead to the destruction of one of its biggest treasures and the other will lead to a golden age of public life. Unfortunately, it is heading down the former path, but it doesn't have to. There is time to change course and follow the path of cities that have walked it before and shown the way. The waterfront plan for Columbia Street in Brooklyn will create a privatization of Brooklyn's most valuable asset.
Camden Maine - Main Street, Waterfront, and More...to Discuss
Who we are... We love to look at and understand how cities/communities around the world work, even thrive. We have spent the last 50 plus years exploring them in every setting on every continent as part of our work. We have small foundation that we started 5 years ago to share our work. Project forPublic Spaces (PPS.org, Scoiallifeproject.org and Placemakingx.org) are the three organizations we started. Together they have lead the Placemaking Movement Globally.
San Francisco - A World-Class Waterfront Defined by a Vibrant Promenade and Active Piers
San Francisco's waterfront has been two decades in the making and it is still growing with big opportunities ahead. It is becoming more and more vibrant as new destinations are developed along the entire length, adding layers of unique activations. It is well on its way to becoming one of the top waterfronts in the world.
How Trees Can Support Placemaking - Integrating Nature and Public Spaces in Carmel, California
Carmel, California was designed before the era of the car, centered around nature and people instead of vehicles. In Carmel, California nature is center-stage. It is a town characterized by trees and their lush green crowns, with trunks sprouting up in every place and angling in every direction. The tree-rich look of Carmel makes it a memorable and unique place and originates at its founding.
Placemaking for Joy Supports People-Powered Places
“Happiness is what we experience as we celebrate the achievements of the self — winning a prize. Joy is what we feel when we are encompassed by a presence that transcends the self.” -David Brooks The best public spaces enable people to experience and express joy. Whether we see the joy of others, or are outwardly sharing our own, when we find joy in public it can grow a virtuous cycle of joy for all.
The Global Placemaking Movement - How It Got Started and What Lies Ahead
Placemaking's Origins This month we are celebrating 50 years since the inception of Project for Public Spaces, our first organization and the predecessor to the global Placemaking network PlacemakingX and Social Life Project. As we are at this key moment in the history of our movement, we want to look back at the last half century of work we've done and then set our sights forward to the next half century of goals.
Social Life for All: Places Where Seniors Thrive
A great city is one that is designed for everyone. That means taking into consideration what different groups of people need, want, and like. What a teenage girl might like to do as she strolls through the city is not the same as what a 70 year-old man might find enjoyable. But both of these people equally deserve to enjoy their city and what it has to offer. In our series Social Life for All, we have looked at the kinds of places where women, men, children, couples, families, and even pets thrive.
A Seat at the Table: How Dining Sheds are Essential for Accessibility and Inclusivity
Dining sheds in New York City helped my wife Kathy and I to thrive. With Kathy being handicapped from a stroke and requiring a wheelchair, our lives have faced severe limitations. When our neighborhood restaurants built outdoor dining settings where we could eat comfortably in the fresh air, have chance encounters with friends or make new friends, it was a godsend. It was such a simple and meaningful improvement to our lives that we cherished.
11 Agendas Resource Guides
Great public places make it possible for us to have interesting experiences on a daily basis and to engage more fully with our cities so that we can create beautiful memories, feel joy, and develop a sense of connection and attachment to our communities. This is why we are so passionate about the Placemaking movement which helps communities create great public places.
Why We Need Social Hubs and How to Make Them
"Intricate minglings of different uses in cities are not a form of chaos. On the contrary, they represent a complex and highly developed form of order." - Jane Jacobs Holly Whyte always said, "What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people." When this happens, when the presence of people somewhere in a neighborhood draws in even more people and those people come back again and again to that spot because they enjoy spending time there, you've got what we call a social hub.
The Social Life of Places Where Families Thrive
The best places are those that are welcoming to people of all ages, from babies in strollers to the elderly. All ages can be found in families, so when you see a family enjoying their time together somewhere, you know you've stumbled upon a great place that has something for everyone. A playground is only for children and a bar is only for adults, but a park with sculptures to climb on and coffee shops to chat in and play areas to run around is a multi-layered place for all.
Where the Sidewalk Continues: Using Shared Space to Bridge Social Life Across Intersections
Intersections can and should be special places in every community. By definition, they are where people's paths cross as they come from different directions, and because of that, they are places where chance encounters and serendipitous meetings can happen. They represent a part of the street where we can see down side streets and thus deeper into surrounding neighborhoods, allowing us to explore the city more in depth.
Vancouver's Granville Island - The Ultimate Multi-Layered Destination
"Truly successful places - those that appeal to our minds, hearts and souls - offer us a way to connect with each other. These places develop organically over time, and are more about emotion than economics and design.
"The Sound of Silence" - A Soundtrack for Community and Placemaking
We recently heard the Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel again. Its poetic lyrics and emotional melody stirred feelings within us that feel relevant to the current state of the world, even though they were written in the 60s. Not only that, but the song resonated with us because of how it brings to mind the principles of community and Placemaking that we advocate for in our work.
How Embracing Bike Culture Can Humanize Cities
These days we are seeing a big and growing biking culture in cities across the globe that is helping to create cities that are better for humans. Bike culture encompasses more than just cycling on a regular basis. It is made up of a large community of people who care about freedom of movement and better cities that can support it, with cyclists being some of the most impassioned advocates for better city design and safer streets.
In Progress: A New Vision for Atlantic Avenue and the Brooklyn Waterfront
Even though Atlantic Avenue is the "Main Street of Brooklyn," it is one of the most hostile-to-pedestrians avenues in New York City. The section from Smith Street to Brooklyn Bridge Park is made dangerous by heavy traffic activity and acts as a kind of wall that divides rather than links historic neighborhoods and residents to natural assets.
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