![]() Portland’s neighborhoods are rich in parks, but lack squares. I live within a few blocks but I would not expect to see anyone I know there. In my hometown, Portland, Oregon the main Pioneer Courthouse square comes alive weekly with programmed concerts, festivals, and markets but does not support residents’ everyday social life. While many Western US cities founded by the Spanish still have a viable plaza at their heart, many of these are used only sporadically by the local population for special events, or they serve primarily the tourist population. 2 Neighborhood square, Campo San Giacomo dall’Orio, Venice. A hospitable European-style neighborhood square is the holy grail. One of the biggest challenges is to get the proportions of the square right.įor those of us concerned with how the built environment influences community, well-being, and public health, public places-streets and plazas-are of immense importance 1. ![]() Designing a neighborhood square to fulfill these social functions is not so simple. Unlike a city’s main square that, from time to time, brings together representatives from all over the city for major festivals, concerts, and special events, a neighborhood square has certain unique social functions: it is frequented every day of the year by those who live in the neighborhood it helps to strengthen social networks and it builds community. ![]()
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