The Great Neighborhood Book: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Placemaking (Paperback)

~ Jay Walljasper (Author), Project for Public Spaces (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Abandoned lots and litter-strewn pathways, or rows of green beans and pockets of wildflowers? Graffiti-marked walls and desolate bus stops, or shady refuges and comfortable seating? What transforms a dingy, inhospitable area into a dynamic gathering place? How do individuals take back their neighborhood?

Neighborhoods decline when the people who live there lose their connection and no longer feel part of their community. Recapturing that sense of belonging and pride of place can be as simple as planting a civic garden or placing some benches in a park.

The Great Neighborhood Book explains how most struggling communities can be revived, not by vast infusions of cash, not by government, but by the people who live there. The author addresses such challenges as traffic control, crime, comfort and safety, and developing economic vitality. Using a technique called "placemaking"-the process of transforming public space-this exciting guide offers inspiring real-life examples that show the magic that happens when individuals take small steps and motivate others to make change.

This book will motivate not only neighborhood activists and concerned citizens but also urban planners, developers, and policymakers.

Jay Walljasper is a senior fellow of Project for Public Spaces (PPS), whose mission is to create and sustain enriching public places that build communities. He is a former editor of The Utne Reader and currently executive editor of Ode magazine. Inspired by European cities, The Great Neighborhood Book highlights practical solutions for the revitalization of North American cities.

About the Author

Project for Public Spaces (PPS) has worked for 30 years in over 1,500 communities in 47 states and 24 countries to create and sustain public places that build communities. PPS was founded to build upon the pioneering Street Life Project of writer-sociologist William H. Whyte, and has published over 14 books and studies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865715815
• ISBN-13: 978-0865715813
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #263,365 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope for Neighborhood Revival, July 12, 2007

By	Mary Nelson (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Great Neighborhood Book is full of examples and ideas for
down to earth you and me kinds of action that inspire and energize
to make things happen in our neighborhoods. It includes getting to know
neighbors, putting benches out at natural pausing places, greening and
gardening ideas, and simple suggestions. Recommend it for community
organizations, individuals and planning groups.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blends practicality and inspiration into an uplifting whole, January 6, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Written by Jay Walljasper, a Senior Fellow of the Project for Public Spaces, The Great Neighborhood Book: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Placemaking is a how-to guide for local communities to improve the quality of life for their residents through building shared bonds. From creating great places to hang out (a park with few hidden spaces and scattered vendors selling refreshments is more likely to deter homeless people and drug dealers from using it), to reducing crime (ordinary people's eyes and physical presence on the street are much more likely to deter crime than iron bars on windows), foster economic vitality (promoting locally grown/cooked/made food is kind to the environment as well as the local economy), and much more. Drawing heavily upon real-life examples in communities that made a measurable positive difference, The Great Neighborhood book blends practicality and inspiration into an uplifting whole and is enthusiastically recommended reading for concerned citizens, neighborhood watch groups, and municipal boards, among many others.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Makes A Great Neighborhood?, October 6, 2008

By	pasquino (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews

Great neighborhoods are built by the neighbors living in them: working there, buying there, fixing it up, loving it. Jay's book is a wonderful tool for anyone who loves their neighborhood. It's full of practical ideas and persuasive philosophies for helping a neighborhood wake up to itself. What are the things that make people want to stop and explore? What makes residents of a great neighborhood want to settle down and never leave? A must-have for anyone who's interested in what makes neighborhoods more livable.