Robust social networks improve a person’s mental and physical health and their access to resources that can empower them toward economic and social prosperity. Public third places are important venues for facilitating social connections in cities, but a lack of sustainable funding, modernization, and upkeep threatens their existence.

As hallmarks of thriving cities, third places are shared public spaces (other than home and work) that host casual hangouts, foster chance encounters, and bring families together. Historically, publicly owned third places have also been free. Growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, we cherished third places such as the Hope Royal Botanic Gardens, Emancipation Park, and Devon House.

However, poor maintenance and a move toward privatization have made many public third places inaccessible. This is evident in Kingston and many cities in the US. Once free, many now charge prohibitive entry fees or are dilapidated, underfunded, and underused—stark examples of the disinvestment in civic infrastructure across US cities.

The decline of third places in recent years has also coincided with rising loneliness in US cities and a weakened sense of well-being in communities. Without these crucial gathering spots, people have fewer opportunities to feel valued in their communities, participate in civic engagement, and access or engage in other activities strongly linked with long-term prosperity.

As local leaders, including urban planning agencies and local placemaking organizations, are charged with improving the vitality of cities, developing and preserving public third places and ensuring equitable access to them will be essential first steps. 

Thriving cities need third places that are accessible to those who would benefit the most

Third places have always played an important role in cities by providing a sense of belonging and shared identity. However, they can also reflect and exacerbate existing social divides.

Where third places are and who has access can contribute to increasing inequality in urban areas, where health, education, and other amenities are already less accessible for people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Rural areas often have fewer third places, depriving residents of access to important social and economic opportunities.

The design of third places can also discourage enjoyment and use. The physical characteristics of public spaces, including seating and shelter, can facilitate social interaction, but they can also deliberately exclude particular groups from using a space freely. Public benches with armrest dividers and restricted access to public restrooms are examples of hostile infrastructure used to further marginalize people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

There are also policies, such as antiloitering and trespass laws (PDF), that prohibit equitable access to these spaces. These laws often target people of color and those with disabilities by criminalizing their use of third places.

Currently, as the homelessness crisis worsens in the US, anticamping ordinances prevent people experiencing homelessness from sleeping on public property. These bans are especially harmful in cities that have a shortage of shelter beds, such as Grants Pass, Oregon. For many, the mere threat of enforcement of these laws deters them from engaging comfortably with public third places.

Local governments can take and are taking action to break down the structural and historical barriers that have created inequitable access to public spaces and essential services. Doing so should boost residents’ sense of community, and by extension, their prospects for upward mobility.

Promising strategies for encouraging and sustaining third places

As our colleague Bill Pitkin wrote in a recent blog post, ensuring people feel valued in their community is crucial to efforts to help residents overcome poverty. Third places can encourage social connection, but to be truly effective, they require local champions and community-level investment.

What does that look like in practice? Local leaders can look to a partnership between the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and Parks Department (NYC Parks) for an example.

High-poverty neighborhoods in New York City have 21 percent less park access than wealthier neighborhoods, reflecting a trend in unequal access to parks in low-income neighborhoods in US cities. Recognizing this disparity, NYCHA and NYC Parks are bridging the gap through initiatives like Walk to a Park and Connected Communities and spending $23 million to create open areas and playgrounds at six public housing developments. This investment aims to foster social connections, improve health outcomes, and provide the environmental benefits of parks to residents currently lacking them.

The collaboration between NYCHA and NYC Parks exemplifies a powerful strategy. It braided initiatives and funding sources to maximize benefits for residents and leveraged the two organizations’ shared interests. NYCHA has an open space master plan (PDF) that pinpoints park access gaps, and NYC Parks’ mission is to concentrate resources in areas that have limited or no green space.

Federal agencies can also contribute to the expansion of third places within local communities. For example, the American Latino History and Culture grant program, operated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aims to develop the capacity of American Latino museums in the US. Yet, a lack of information about federal funding opportunities and perceptions that the application processes are too complicated remain barriers for these museums in pursuing this funding. To improve access to opportunities for underserved communities, federal agencies are implementing Equity Action Plans that address these obstacles and center community input.

What can local leaders do now to preserve third places and help revitalize cities?

Given that social networks are strongly linked with long-term upward mobility, local leaders must target infrastructure, activation, and maintenance investments toward third places to help cities and residents flourish. The Upward Mobility Framework and associated Mobility Metrics offer communities a starting point for examining current conditions, setting priorities, and working toward more equitable access to public spaces and the benefits they provide.

As the threat of losing public third places continues looming, targeted investments and data-informed action to improve civic infrastructure are more important than ever.