Community Placemaking and Four Design Principles

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Four Design Principles for

Community Placemaking
Categories
• Public Spaces
Services Provided
• Streetscapes
Project Type
• Streetscapes
Project Manager
Contact
Tim West, PLA, LEED AP
A Full-Service
Civil & Structural Engineering Firm
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Related Insights
Enhancing Local Identity & Sense of

Place through Placemaking
What makes one public space or street corridor better than another? What draws
people in and makes them want to stay?
At first, you may be tempted to say a variety of goods and services or the ease of
accessibility. And you’d be right, but at the same time, it’s much more than that.
When it comes to community placemaking, creating inviting places such as parks,
streetscapes, and other public spaces is everything!
By enhancing the existing strengths of an area through design, placemaking adds

visual interest to an area that attracts activity. It’s often utilized to highlight
community character, promote healthy lifestyles, and support the economic vitality
of the surrounding area. While we may not realize it, placemaking is part of what
we cherish most about an area.
Placemaking strengthens our emotional ties to a place,” explains Landscape

Architect Tim West, PLA, LEED AP. “It encourages an individual sense of
belonging and ownership of an area, creating favorite locations that we visit again
and again.”
4 Principles of Placemaking Capitalize

on Community Assets & Potential
However, what works in one area, doesn’t always work in another. Strategic
placemaking design is based on a few particular strengths of an area, so a one-
size-fits-all design approach won’t be due. “Replicating a design often fails to be
successful, but using a repeatable design process based on the principles of
placemaking ensures a clear vision is established for each project space,” states
West.
For this reason, Snyder & Associates’ Landscape Architects emphasize listening
to the users of a space, whether they live, work, or vacation there. West says
there are four key design components to placemaking—theme, active
transportation, gateway and signage, and amenities.
1. Identity & Theme Creates Sense of
Place
Establishing a theme is probably the most important component of community
placemaking. The local community will have an opinion on how they’d like their
space to look.
Native plants and grasses, like those utilized within the Prairie Heritage Civic Center Plaza, add to the
aesthetic appeal while assisting with stormwater management and infiltration.
Some will want a more contemporary, reinvented space; others may prefer a more
traditional look based on historical elements. Regardless of the appearance and
vibe, using materials and colors in repetition will foster continuity and help define
boundaries. Brick, limestone, and decorative fencing are popular placemaking
materials for traditional themes, while stainless steel, metal panels, concrete, and
LED lighting are often used for a more contemporary feel.
Native plantings can be used in this manner as well, and have the added benefit
of being useful for stormwater treatment and infiltration. The use of native grasses
and perennials at the Prairie Heritage Plaza in Altoona, Iowa established a colorful
theme full of different textures that allows the area to stand out.
2. Safe Access & Accommodations

for Efficient Circulation
Creating different zones for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians will enhance the
user experience and make your public spaces safer. For example, vehicle traffic
corridors might utilize reduced lane widths to slow motorists and wayfinding signs
to identify access to parking areas. Dedicated bike lanes and enhanced visibility at
intersections are often a primary focus for bike zones. Vertical elements such as
shade trees, lighting, and architectural features physically separate vehicle and
pedestrian zones, creating a more visually-appealing pedestrian experience.
Designing streets as safe and comfortable places for everyone is a simple
concept, but there are deliberate design choices that can enable multi-modal
accommodations.
“On a streetscape project in Clinton, Iowa, this approach helped us match the
speed and type of transportation in each of their circulation zones with appropriate
placemaking elements,” shares West. “Larger, vertically-repetitive elements keep
drivers focused on the road and the traffic around them, while walkway and
storefront areas focus on the use of textures and details to spark pedestrian
interest.”
3. Gateway Features & Signage

Define the Space
A rendering of the Riverside Drive Streetscape in Iowa City will utilize specialty wayfinding signage to help
guide users.
Establishing the outer limits of space through the use of gateway features lets
users know they’ve entered a unique space. Architectural elements, such as
columns or decorative fencing, are often used to help define a space. Specialty
wayfinding signs, such as the ones found within Iowa City’s Riverside Drive
Streetscape, let people know what services and attractions an area offers. They
also provide an opportunity to use branding and color to reaffirm the identity and
theme of the area.
4. User Amenities Draw People to
Public Places
With a focus on user needs, you can incorporate different amenities into a
streetscape that will encourage people to stay longer and increase their enjoyment
of the area. Defining how the space will be used is key, and it’s important to
program space for each type of activity. Providing a canopy through a mix of tree
plantings, awnings, and overhead structures offers relief from the elements while
defining the space in three dimensions and separating different traffic zones.
Outdoor seating also encourages people to stay longer and can help support local
businesses. Seating can take many different forms, including benches, seat walls,
tables, and chairs. Trash receptacles, wayfinding signage, bike racks, and bike
maintenance stations provide site amenities for people to use while they enjoy an
area. Best of all, any of these design elements will support whatever programming
is being developed for the space.
Gaining Local Support & Funding for

Placed-Based Development
The aforementioned principles can be used to shape communities into better
places. This in turn creates a vibrant community where residents not only have the
option to, but also want to live, work, play, and interact.
When it comes to placemaking in your community, keep local strengths in mind

and capitalize on them. Every community has specific needs to address when it
comes to creating quality public spaces. By listening carefully to user groups and
employing placemaking strategies, you can strengthen the social interaction of
your community and create tangible spaces citizens are vested in and proud of.
Interaction among residents promotes a culture of involvement and fosters

community connections. As West points out, it’s never too early to start planning
for your community’s future. “The earlier you start planning for a particular amenity
or project, the more opportunities you’ll have to look at the details, gather public
input, and maximize potential funding sources,” he concludes.
To learn more about placemaking strategies and how to strategically plan for your
public space improvements, contact Tim West.
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Bids FTP Careers NEWSLETTER CONTACT US

Four Design Principles for

Enhancing Local Identity & Sense of

By enhancing the existing strengths of an area through design, placemaking adds

Placemaking strengthens our emotional ties to a place,” explains Landscape

4 Principles of Placemaking Capitalize

2. Safe Access & Accommodations

3. Gateway Features & Signage

Gaining Local Support & Funding for

When it comes to placemaking in your community, keep local strengths in mind

Interaction among residents promotes a culture of involvement and fosters

GET IN TOUCH WITH US

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