Beginner-level placemaking recipes

_THIS ARTICLE IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE POP-UP PLACEMAKING TOOL KIT, A FREE PUBLICATION BY AARP AND THE PLANNING AND DESIGN FIRM TEAM BETTER BLOCK. THE BEGINNER-LEVEL PROJECTS SHOWN BELOW ARE

GOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO PLACEMAKING, ARE LOOKING FOR QUICK AND EASY COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND/OR ARE NEW TO OR UNCOMFORTABLE USING POWER TOOLS._ ALLEYWAYS Alleyways are among the most

underused public spaces in America. Draw attention to them by adding cafe-style chairs and tables, and overhead decorations such as paper chains, banners, LED string lights or (see the

Advanced Recipes) even colorful umbrellas.   NEWNAM, GEORGIA | Photo by Team Better Block COLORFUL CROSSWALKS A bright, colorful, artistic crosswalk alerts pedestrians, cyclists and

motorists to its presence, which makes the street safer for all users. Des Moines, Iowa | Photo by Team Better Block COMMUNITY STAGE Place a slightly raised platform on lawn, sidewalk or

closed street and the performers among us — whether they're 2 years old, 22 or even more seasoned — will take the stage to sing, dance, tell a story or simply pretend. Buffalo, New York

| Photo by Team Better Block OUTDOOR GAMES Successful public spaces offer activities and support active uses. Ping-pong tables and cornhole boards are fairly easy to create, and the games

are fun for people of all ages. Columbus, Ohio | Photo by Team Better Block POP-UP ROUNDABOUTS Also called traffic circles, roundabouts force vehicles that are passing through intersections

without traffic lights to slow down. Creating a temporary roundabout by using paint and hay bales lets a community test the solution’s effectiveness. Greensboro, North Carolina | Photo by

Team Better Block POP-UP SHOPS Allowing a business to briefly occupy a vacant retail location activates an unused space, provides the community with a destination, and enables entrepreneurs

to explore the economic viability of their service or product. Bethel, Vermont | Photo by Team Better Block PUBLIC ART Murals, sculptures, mosaics, interactive displays and other outdoor art

installations enliven spaces and often provide information about a community’s history and culture. Public art displays are also a great way of lauding and promoting local talent. Columbus,

Ohio | Photo by Team Better Block RAISED-BED GARDENS Planting crops in beds that people don’t have to stoop or sit on the ground to use is an age-friendly way to grow fresh produce in one’s

own yard or a community green space. Buffalo, New York | Photo by Team Better Block SEATING Everybody sits! Public seating is an essential ingredient in placemaking. Benches, chairs and

other forms of outdoor furniture invite passersby to linger, visit and enjoy a shared community space. Pittsfield, Massachusetts | Photo by Team Better Block SIGNAGE Directional signage is

referred to as “wayfinding.” Its strategically placed arrows, mileage indications and other useful information help people get where they are going and make a community feel more welcoming.

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