Knowledge Center

Public Space Management and Operations

Operations of a place requires the daily management of the physical space, whether publicly or privately owned, that encompasses cleaning, beautification, wayfinding, infrastructure maintenance, outreach, green space, and parking. Place managers address both the actual and perceived safety and security issues of a place by providing services, outreach and facilities. Place managers foster relationships with local and regional providers to share resources and information with the goal of cultivating safe and vibrant communities. Clean and safe teams have evolved within some districts to include engagement and intervention for those in need within our urban places.

Dwight White II Master Talk

November 21, 2023 Master Talk

Dwight is a multi-disciplinary creative, with ideas and strategy that originate by thoroughly understanding people. He utilizes insights to inspire, innovate and maintain relevancy with culture through creativity. He has worked to build strategies for growth with organizations across industries by understanding complex societal structures and current behaviors of consumers.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!

GLOWing Downtowns

October 05, 2023 Presentation

Light art festivals and interactive art installations are popping up all over the world. Illuminate the “how-tos” of creating public art experiences to differentiate your district, increase visitors and generate quantifiable metrics.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!

Creating a Layered Approach to Community Safety & Visitor Experience

October 05, 2023 Presentation

PMOs have begun to create layered approaches to public safety, which seek to fill the gap between no response and emergency response to quality-of-life issues, focused on how community safety can be developed through engagement and ambassadorship.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!

Innovative and Compassionate Solutions to Working with our Unhoused Neighbors

October 05, 2023 Presentation

Learn how different districts in North America are addressing the humanitarian crisis of homelessness with intention and how your PMO peers are responsive to stakeholder concerns while compassionately working to meet the needs of our most vulnerable.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!

River District Clean and Safe Team

September 29, 2023 Award

The Public Space Team, under the guidance of the Clean and Safe program manager keeps the River District public areas, such as streets, sidewalks, bike lanes and parks, free of stains, litter, graffiti and bad odors. Most candidates have been referred to the team through, a volunteer work program or local shelters and service providers.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!

Vanier HUB

September 29, 2023 Award

The Vanier HUB placemaking project activated an underused parking lot adjacent to the Mainstreet. By creating this one-of-a-kind community and arts space, the first of its kind in Ottawa, the ZAC Vanier BIA invited people to come rediscover Vanier – a community previously known for poverty and crime.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!

Winthrop Family Historical Garden

September 29, 2023 Award

Twenty years after the original dedication of the Winthrop Family Historical Garden, the garden had become overgrown and was not serving the community in the way it was originally intended. Made possible through city grant funding, Uptown United was able to oversee a complete garden renovation to better align with current community needs.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!

Baird Urban Sports Park

September 22, 2023 Best Practice

The Baird Urban Sports Park was created to capture downtown Louisville’s urban experience and historic character while expanding and reimagining its use. What was an underutilized and undeveloped 20,000 square-foot vacant lot in the heart of downtown is now a public urban sports park, intended to encourage public community use through open play hours, and offer a unique downtown experience.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!

The Community Engagement Team

September 22, 2023 Best Practice

The Community Engagement Team (CET) is a unique, business-led outreach team that provides rapid response support and intervention for non-violent crisis situations and traditional street outreach services in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CET partners with Toronto Police to divert vulnerable individuals from the criminal justice system and into local community support programs.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!

Bloor-Annex BIA Parkettes

September 22, 2023 Best Practice

Four parkettes, situated at five-minute walking intervals from one another, transformed what was formerly underutilized and impervious areas in the Bloor-Annex neighbourhood into dynamic public amenity spaces. The collaborative and cross-disciplinary approach to the project helped incorporate new methods and techniques into the design process that highlight’s Bloor-Annex’s uniqueness.

We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!