Giving Compass' Take:

· Mareesa Nicosia touches on the rise of public space philanthropy and provides some of the most notable public-private partnerships we can loo forward to in the coming year. 

· What is public space philanthropy and why has it become so popular? 

· Read more about placemaking and coming together to build community spaces. 

Parks, libraries, universities, museums, and concert halls have long relied on generous philanthropic underwriters to benefit a public seeking education, entertainment, and recreation. But in the past few years, wealthy donors have homed in on urban public parks and other “placemaking” projects with greater zeal—perhaps responding to cities struggling with shrinking parks, recreation, and infrastructure budgets, as well as growing inequality.

We found three such projects in the U.S., where land is being purchased or otherwise underwritten with philanthropic dollars. In each, donors are working closely with public officials and residents to turn dead space into thriving new ecosystems. From a thoughtfully designed and flood-mitigating citywide trail system in Houston to an immersive art exhibition showcasing Puerto Rico’s rich cultural history and revival after Hurricane Maria, here are some of the most notable public-private partnerships to look out for in 2020.

Read the full article about public space philanthropy by Mareesa Nicosia at Barron's.