What makes a good urban public space? It takes more than a plaza, which can be barren, inhospitable and desolate. The fountains, as shown here on Park Ave. in New York, are a definite bonus. But the critical ingredient is having somewhere to sit, even if it’s as simple as a set of shallow steps. I offer this example not because it is extraordinary in any way but because it is so totally ordinary. Cities and towns don’t have to spend millions of dollars on public art and landscaping. All they need is a vibrant street with lots of foot traffic and a place to eat lunch outside on a sunny spring day.
— JAB
