[Fun] - Resource Guide

The best public spaces give people opportunities to experience joy and fun. Whether we can observe the joy of others there or outwardly share our own, joy in public creates a virtuous cycle of joy for all.

Having joy and fun designed into the public realm is not a luxury or privilege, or even necessarily something to achieve after other basic needs are met. Designing for joy can in itself be a way to create ripples of positive change throughout a community. Joy can be a force for equality, crucial social connections, and healing. Many lower income communities have public spaces that support great amounts of joy, often at minimal costs, while many upscale communities are rarely characterized by joy in the public realm in spite of expensive designs and ample resources.

Joy can be a form of authentic cultural and political power, and even of resistance. When marginalized or minority groups participate in joyous activities in public they often feel and project acceptance, pride, and unity. Human joy is contagious, and when shared in public spaces it brings us together, melts barriers, and lifts us all up.

Designing for Kids Means Designing for Everyone

A key to creating fun places is to try to design it for kids. We are so used to associating fun only with childhood than when we design for adults we often leave fun out of the equation. We aim to make places convenient, relaxing, and cool, but we often forget about designing opportunities for fun into them. However, when we think about how to make a place kid-friendly, we start to open our minds to the different ways we can infuse joy there.

Here are some of our favorite examples of places designed with joy and fun in mind.

Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen has a special place in our hearts because of how magical and joyful it is year-round. It is what we call a "multi-layered place" because there are multiple things to do in every spot for people of all ages and interests. Sometimes, like with a café that can be found at the base of a roller coaster, activities are literally layered one on top of the other! It is a place brimming with fun and whimsy, like the illustrations of a storybook. It's no wonder that this was the inspiration for America's favorite theme park – Disneyland.

Places like Tivoli used to be called Pleasure Gardens because people felt so much pleasure being there and because they were designed to bring people joy. We need to bring the concept of Pleasure Gardens back, designing parks to be more than just patches of grass, but instead places where people truly love to spend time.

Granville Island Water Park

The whole of Granville Island is a place designed for people to enjoy themselves in a variety of different ways. There are shops and colorful streets and entertainment options all around the island. The water park in particular stands out as a place that attracts laughter and joy as its visitors, big and small, splash around throughout the day. The colorful amenities and open plan of the water area creates a sense of freedom and encourages spirited play.

Paris Plages

We adore Paris Plages because of how they have transformed a once underperforming space into a thriving public place that everyone loves to spend time in. A pedestrian boulevard along the water, Paris Plage is lined with numerous things to see, do, and enjoy during the summer months.

There are cafés and restaurants with outdoor seating areas, board games, concerts and performances, splash pads, trampolines, foosball tables, and much more! So much thought has been put into how to maximize the joy felt in this space.

Bryant Park

Bryant Park is the heart of NYC, both because of its central location and because of how it attracts people from every corner of Manhattan to gather and play. The park is filled with activities for people of every background and interest. There's an outdoor library, ping pong tables, bocce ball fields, a café, bar, carousel, concert area, and more. Whatever you're in the mood for on a sunny New York day, Bryant Park has it!

And even when the days aren't so sunny, there's still plenty to do in this great park. During the winter, Bryant Park transforms into a winter wonderland. With a huge ice skating rink, a cozy lodge, and the best holiday market in town, Bryant Park becomes the place to celebrate during the colder months in New York.

Campus Martius

Campus Martius is one of the public places we've worked on that we're most proud of. Especially because of the revolutionary idea of adding a beach here – in the center of Detroit! This feature was so surprising and unique when it was proposed that it turned many heads, but it has since become a huge hit with locals and visitors alike. There is so much fun to be had in the sand, the cafe next to it and the seating all around, that you forget you're deep in a bustling city full of cars and industry. That's the magic of a place designed for joy.

Just like Bryant Park, Campus Martius transforms in the winter with an ice skating rink, thousands of glittering lights, a majestic Christmas tree, and numerous activities to engage with and enjoy. A great place is one that highlights the joy in every season and Campus Martius is a brilliant example of this.

No matter who you are, where you come from, or how old you are, everyone wants to feel joyful. Wanting to have fun and be happy are fundamental human desires and we are all drawn to places that can fulfill them. We shouldn't restrict joy to playgrounds and places for kids. Any place designed with joy in mind becomes a better place, and it benefits us all to keep that in mind as we shape our world.

The mission of the Social Life Project is to incite a renaissance of community connection in public spaces around the globe. Through our online publication, presentations, campaigns, and catalytic projects, we can create transformative impact on communities everywhere. Our work grows out of more than 50 years devoted to building the global placemaking movement. It is an initiative of the Placemaking Fund, along with PlacemakingX — a global network of leaders who together accelerate placemaking as a way to create healthy, inclusive, and beloved communities.

If you are interested in collaborating (articles, presentations, exhibits, projects, and more) or supporting the cause contact us.