Civic Life

Public Squares and the Right to the City

Why car-free pedestrian plazas strengthen local retail and host vibrant cultural festivals.

Share this article
Public Squares and the Right to the City

Why car-free pedestrian plazas strengthen local retail and host vibrant cultural festivals.

This report looks beyond the announcement to explain the systems, trade-offs and unanswered questions at the center of the story.

The bigger picture

The debate surrounding civic life is often presented as a contest between competing positions. A closer examination reveals a more practical set of questions.

What to watch next

Independent journalism is most useful when it makes complex questions understandable without pretending that difficult choices have easy answers.