Article Futureproofing Our Public Spaces: Are We Planning for the Long Term? Share: Public green spaces have never been more valued. In the years since the pandemic, parks, public realm projects and community green spaces have become increasingly important to wellbeing and biodiversity. Yet despite growing public demand, many organisations responsible for these spaces continue to face mounting pressures around funding, maintenance and long-term sustainability. The question is no longer whether green spaces matter. The question is whether we are managing them in a way that will allow them to thrive in 10, 20 or even 30 years’ time. To explore this challenge, Tivoli and Pro Landscaper brought together senior representatives from across the landscaping, development and public sectors for a roundtable discussion focused on one key question: How can the sector better align to futureproof our public spaces? The discussion uncovered several recurring themes. Maintenance is often considered too late in the project lifecycle. Communities are not always engaged early enough. Skills shortages continue to place pressure on the sector. Meanwhile, changing environmental conditions are forcing organisations to rethink traditional approaches to design and management. Perhaps most significantly, there was broad agreement that public spaces need to be viewed differently. Rather than liabilities that require ongoing expenditure, they should be recognised as valuable assets that deliver social, environmental and economic benefits. Download the full whitepaper The resulting whitepaper captures the key insights from the discussion, along with eight practical actions for clients, contractors, designers, landowners and policymakers looking to create more resilient, sustainable and future-ready public spaces.
