Public space isn’t a given—it’s shaped by policy, funding, and governance. CAPR equips communities to understand, navigate, and advocate.
Constructing the American Public Realm (CAPR) is a collaborative research project—initiated by the McHarg Center at the University of Pennsylvania and PORT, a Philadelphia- and Chicago-based public realm design practice—that examines how public space in the U.S. is conceived, funded, built, and maintained.
Public space does not emerge from a single, coordinated strategy. Instead, it results from overlapping policies, funding structures, and governance models shaped by shifting priorities, administrative divides, and economic pressures. CAPR explores these dynamics through 27 case studies across nine U.S. cities, analyzing three types of public space: civic landmarks, connective corridors, and neighborhood-scale parks.
These case studies document how public agencies, private funders, and community organizations invest in, govern, and sustain public space—revealing the improvisational nature of its delivery and the trade-offs embedded in different models.
The U.S. lacks a standardized system for funding and maintaining public space, leaving parks and plazas vulnerable to shifting municipal budgets, inconsistent philanthropic contributions, and fluctuating public-private partnerships. This research asks: How does this volatility impact the durability, equity, and accessibility of public space? What happens when funding disappears or political momentum fades?
Emerging from this work is the Public Space Funding Primer—a 64-card tool that translates public space financing and governance into a clear, accessible format. By distilling funding models, decision-making structures, and partnership strategies, the Primer equips a wider audience to engage with the forces shaping the spaces they rely on.
Rather than prescribing solutions, CAPR provides a framework for understanding and influencing how public space is funded and managed. It offers tools for communities to navigate, challenge, and refine these systems—ensuring public spaces are not incidental, but intentional; not peripheral, but fundamental.
This research led to the creation of a 64-card Public Space Funding Primer—a tool designed to SPARK conversations, ENGAGE design students, and ADVANCE public scholarship. The cards translate complex funding models, governance structures, and investment mechanisms into an accessible format for practitioners and advocates.
CAPR examines 27 public space projects across nine mid-sized American cities, spanning three latitudes and ranging in population from 300,000 to 2 million. Selected to represent both legacy industrial centers and Sunbelt metros, these cities offer a comparative lens on how governance structures, funding strategies, and economic pressures shape public realm investment and long-term stewardship.
Landmark public spaces funded through major investments and public-private partnerships.
Linear corridors and trail networks funded through transportation grants and regional partnerships.
Community and neighborhood-scaled spaces supported by municipal budgets and local partnerships.
Case Study Cards document 27 American public realm projects, examining their origin stories, key stakeholders, and capital funding partnerships.
Each case captures a distinct approach to public space investment, governance, and long-term stewardship, exposing the trade-offs embedded in their delivery. Together, these cards provide a comparative framework for understanding how different cities fund, control, and sustain public space.
Case Study Comparison Cards analyze 27 public realm projects across nine cities, evaluating their cost, function, and complexity.
Public space funding is volatile, complex, and unevenly distributed—but patterns emerge. These cards identify structural relationships between governance, financing, and scale, revealing how different investment models impact access, durability, and long-term stewardship.
Glossary Cards define key financial instruments cities use to fund public realm investments.
This deck clarifies how cities fund public space—covering tools like tax increment financing and philanthropic contributions. By providing a shared language for practitioners, elected officials, and the public, these cards help demystify funding structures and support advocacy for sustained investment.
City Cards analyze governance structures and municipal reliance on public versus private funding for park provision across nine American cities.
Not all cities invest in public space the same way. These cards reveal how governance structures, policy decisions, and funding mechanisms shape where investment happens, who controls it, and how long-term stewardship is sustained.
Parks Administration Cards examine the organization, governance, and operating budgets of parks departments in the nine case study cities.
A parks department’s placement within city government shapes its funding stability, operational capacity, and role in broader urban planning. These case studies analyze how governance models, budget structures, and administrative frameworks impact long-term park investment and stewardship.
CAPR informs national conversations on public space funding, governance, and stewardship—engaging policymakers, designers, and advocates while equipping a broad audience with the tools to navigate public space investment.
Current partners include the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, Urban Land Institute, Trust for Public Land, National Recreation and Park Association, and American Institute of Architects.
