Congress recently passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which has tremendous promise for improving roads and bridges ($110 billion allocation) and reconnecting communities divided by transportation infrastructure ($1 billion). Although these allocations are smaller than those in the proposed budget, state and local policymakers still have opportunities to creatively distribute the funding to improve neighborhoods and cities. When done thoughtfully, these infrastructure investments can activate space in ways that draw in and welcome community members and foster a sense of belonging and excitement.

Historically, access to public space across the US has been inequitable. Structural drivers, including redlining, racial segregation, discriminatory planning, and divestment in communities of color and immigrant communities, have created sharp divides in neighborhoods.

Policymakers can address these long-standing and segregating practices by improving street infrastructure through placemaking and keeping equity and community engagement in mind. Placemaking supports the design of places to reflect the community’s priorities and promote racial equity. When people identify with and enjoy a place, they often become stewards in sustaining its operations and maintenance, which can encourage investment. Effective community development bridges opportunity gaps across race and income lines, but placemaking must be centered in infrastructure plans to ensure effective community development.

If policymakers want to achieve greater racial equity, they can promote and fund placemaking activities in three key ways that align equitable placemaking with infrastructure investments.

1. Using streets and sidewalks for community programming

2. Exploring tactical changes made during the pandemic can yield long-term ideas

3. Placemaking can produce wealth-building opportunities

Joint infrastructure and placemaking efforts demonstrate that the revival of places must include physical and social investments. As policymakers, planners, and community organizations tap into the funding earmarked for infrastructure, they can deepen community investments by doubling down on economic development and advancing racial equity.

Read the full article about placemaking in U.S. infrastructure by Kimberly Burrowes at Urban Institute.