Bibliography

Making Place Through Making explores how makerspaces in New York’s Finger Lakes region function as contemporary third places and sites of queer belonging. Drawing on interviews across six spaces, the study examines how shared making, physical space, inclusion, and community culture can create social infrastructure beyond traditional queer gathering places.

Architect and historian Dolores Hayden examines how urban landscapes can serve as powerful sites of public memory and social history. Drawing on her work in Los Angeles, The Power of Place reveals how communities use design, preservation, and art to honor diverse histories of race, gender, and resilience within American cities.

Michael Carriere and David Schalliol explore how artists, neighbors, and activists have reshaped American cities through grassroots placemaking, offering an alternative model for equitable, community-led change. Drawing on research from over 200 sites, The City Creative examines the evolving role of place in urban transformation.

John Forester shares firsthand stories from architects, artists, and community organizers transforming ordinary spaces into inclusive, thriving places. Through real-world examples of collaboration and care, the book reveals how participatory placemaking can heal, connect, and strengthen communities.

Based on decades of work by Project for Public Spaces, How to Turn a Place Around is a practical, accessible guide to transforming public spaces through community-driven action. Designed for everyone from residents to city leaders, it outlines core principles and tools for creating vibrant, people-centered places.