Reclaiming the Commons

This collection of essays, drawn from excerpts in Commons Magazine, is intended to improve our understanding of the “commons” and “placemaking” movements that aim to restore a sense of place in communities, while promoting public space and engagement. Focusing on community assets, these movements promote an integrated approach to urban planning that seeks to create public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness, and well-being. The collection includes best practice examples — ranging from Bogata, Colombia to the Netherlands to Boston — of strategies for building community and reclaiming public and open space.

When you hear the phrase “the commons,” you might think of a medieval town where peasants graze sheep, but the commons of the 21st century is much more hi-tech. From wi-fi to broadcast spectrum to the Internet, a new commons is rising.