Collaborative Planning for Community-Specific Public Spaces Projects

Collaborative activities are used throughout a one-day workshop to identify best practices for improving public spaces to start the Enhancing process. An emphasis is placed on forming partnerships to achieve desired community goals. Purdue Extension facilitators walk participants through the process of:

• Collecting data on community assets;
• Planning improvements to public areas; and
• Integrating those plans with larger community programs and goals.

Facilitators give participants the tools they need to design, implement and evaluate community-specific public spaces projects. A companion Indiana-based curriculum connects decision-makers with additional how-to resources. Follow-up working group meetings provide the resources and technical support needed to plan and implement projects tailored to individual communities.

The Enhancing facilitation process can take approximately 15-20 hours (or more) over the course of three to six months. The program combines data collection and analysis with inclusive public deliberation to guide the design of a high-quality action plan that can result in sustainable and impactful improvements for public spaces and, ultimately, an enhanced quality of life.

Program Takeaways

A completed high quality public spaces action plan that can be used to:

• Update comprehensive planning efforts;
• Update parks and recreation master plans; and
• Support fundraising initiatives.

Target Audiences

This program is designed to engage decision-makers and local leaders, including parks boards and planning commission members, public officials and their staff and members of organizations that provide services, programs or management of public spaces.

EVPS in Action – Community Project Overview

Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces – Frankfort

Frankfort’s downtown is the ‘heart’ of the community for local residents as well as the location of its central business district. A coalition of people from all walks of life were convened by the mayor’s office to evaluate and improve public spaces for the long-term social, economic and environmental health of Frankfort and Clinton County. The overarching goal is to create a more sustainable community by listening to stakeholder input, collecting data on community assets and using that data to plan public space improvements that move Frankfort forward. After three intensive working sessions, the resulting “Frankfort Public Spaces Action Plan” served as the basis for a $40,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

~ “City Ramps Up Downtown Revitalization Efforts” – Lafayette Journal & Courier

Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces – Corydon

The Town of Corydon was one of the first participants in the Hometown Collaboration Initiative (HCI) program. After many months of learning and collaboration, the Corydon HCI Team completed their capstone project planning process through collaboration with the Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces team. With Corydon’s bicentennial on the horizon, the Corydon HCI Team wanted to select a project that was not only feasible and sustainable, but one that could have wide-ranging impact on residents and visitors alike. After much consideration and community input, the concept of Bicentennial Park was born. Through their collaboration with EVPS, a site was selected and obtained, desired park attributes were deliberated and a robust action plan was put into place that is guiding the development and $1 million financing of the park.

~ “Fundraising Underway for Bicentennial Park” – The Corydon Democrat

Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces in the News

Illinois Indiana Sea Grant, The Helm, Communities Come To Life in Public Space

Purdue Agricultures Magazine, Enhancing Public Spaces

To learn more about Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces and schedule a workshop, please contact:

Kara Salazar

Purdue Extension Sustainable Communities Specialist

salazark@purdue.edu
765-496-1070