Meanwhile, the new social distancing requirements are prompting some corporate workplaces to convert outdoor spaces, like terraces and courtyards, into meeting areas, heightening the need to keep them comfortable and accessible throughout the year.įinding ways to maximize the comfort and functionality of outdoor spaces year-round is a new challenge for many cities and it is not a simple process. Many restaurants are highly dependent on the revenue generated through outdoor dining, for example. Utilitarian spaces once allocated for parking are now serving as vital amenities where people meet friends, cycle, and work, and restaurants and retailers serve their customers.Īs outdoor spaces take on a more central role in the urban ecosystem, it is increasingly important that they remain comfortable and functional for as much of the year as possible or we run the risk of losing ground and undermining our economic recovery. In the span of just a few months, densely populated cities, like New York, have seen residents reclaiming the streets. Most modern American cities were planned during the automotive age to prioritize car traffic, but the pandemic has helped to catalyze a fundamental transformation of the urban core. The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing many US cities to reconsider the role that outdoor space plays in urban life.
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