Reasoning & Evidence
Third places are social spaces separate from an individual’s typical social environments (e.g.,the home and workplace) and are often cited as key factors in driving civic engagement, building social cohesion, and establishing a sense of place.(53) Common third places include libraries, community centers, public school playgrounds, parks, etc. They can also be the city block, a street corner, or a person’s front yard, extending beyond formal third places. Literature commonly refers to these informal third places as bumping spaces,where individuals naturally “bump” into one another.(54) A study exploring these spaces in a New Zealand community, following the redesign of various suburbs in response to a series of devastating earthquakes found that bumping spaces can provide meaningful social interaction and social support.(55) Several participants interviewed described how a simple acknowledgement or nod could provide social support when needed and often met new people, expanding their social network, in these spaces. Additionally, elements of bumping spaces, such as benches, can serve not only as a space for connection but also increase the accessibility of an area and promote intergenerational and age-friendly spaces.(56)
When discussing third places, it is also important to call attention to privately owned, publicly accessible third places and their role in nurturing community ties through meaningful design and facilitation. For example, some shopping malls open early to provide access for walking and exercise – encouraging active living with signage and routes mapped for easy access. Discover strategies that can support the promotion of health and community in privately owned third places in this report from the Urban Land Institute.
Examples of Community Implementation
London, United Kingdom: The Bumping Spaces Project created by City of London Libraries and Made By Play sought to explore improvements to social connection through interactive, playful installations that offered opportunities for sharing names and stories, checking in on neighbors, and encouraging in-person connections- demonstrating the critical role libraries play in fostering community connections.
Willmar, Minnesota: Destination Playground in Willmar Minnesota is a fully accessible park designed through a cross-cultural initiative led by nearly 4,000 volunteers. The park services as an inclusive space that celebrates diversity, featuring multilingual signage, and brings together families of all backgrounds to play and connect.
Atlanta, Georgia: Each StationSoccer site was envisioned as a gathering place to build community and support youth education and development, as well as transit-oriented development that attracts new commercial and residential development, enhances the public realm, and serves as the foundation for healthy and more equitable neighborhoods. The project was created through a coalition of public, private, and civic interests, to create a unique urban development ecosystem that knits communities together through mass transit and the world’s most popular game – soccer.
Reference: The SOCIAL Framework Report: The Built Environment Sector