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¹ This section summarizes information presented by Bobby Milstein from ReThink Health. The statements made are not endorsed or verified by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

only used by “drug dealers.” After the Project for Public Spaces, it was completely redesigned, and he considers it a model for rejuvenation of spaces. He said they hold an annual conversation day in the park in June of each year and it has a welcoming environment. He said anyone is able to and does walk in and thus he found it to be accessible and inclusive. His favorite aspect is the French café chairs because they allow people to redesign the space.

Dannemiller described his place, which is the Cape May Pedestrian Mall in Massachusetts. His family would go there to spend time outdoors because there was still some protection from the weather. He said it was an inviting place for people to “mull around,” “people watch,” and was a popular and active place.

Rodriguez spoke about her experience in Bryant Park. She recalled seeing a person who was experiencing homelessness sitting next to a couple who appeared to be on their lunch break. Nearby was a group of tourists and a lady with a stroller. She said this was “meeting people where they [were] at.” She considered using a harm-reduction model approach and applying it to spaces. Rather than pushing out the person experiencing homelessness, this approach would make room for others as well.

Rodriguez then asked Gross and Dannemiller to tell a story about the places they mentioned and to analyze how the places compared with each other. Gross observed that they both mentioned seating and that having moveable seating was empowering. Dannemiller said that while there was seating at Cape May, it was fixed and not particularly inviting.

Rodriguez mentioned various walking paths within Bryant Park and how its design provided for imagination and creativity. Gross said there are two types of park designs: the British design allows for surprises by turning corners without giving clear views, and the French design allows you to see long distances. The British design may not be appropriate for

areas with a concern about crime. He said at the Champs-Élysées, there is a mixture of these designs.

Rodriguez asked how planners could connect to a broad range of residents for the goal of inclusivity. Dannemiller responded with his example at Cape May. The majority who visit are tourists, he claimed. While it is an artificial environment, he said, it is the most vibrant spot in the area, even off season. This one spot does not close up when tourists leave, he said. Economically, there is vitality. Gross said he selected Bryant Park for the annual conversation day for its beauty, which attracts people who happen to be passing by, including foreign visitors. He considered that there are some limitations to Bryant Park, such as the “high tone of the Upper East side.”

Ysaura Toribio reported for her group, saying they viewed the presence of diverse people as a sign of inclusion. That is, if they see only one group of people, others who are not part of that group would assume they are not welcome or it is not for them. An unnamed audience member added that diversity related to businesses as well. Rodriguez reported that the online discussion said agency and that being able to have moveable fixtures encouraged inclusivity. Roerty mentioned the history of the place and the remnants of that history. Another unnamed audience member added to that by saying that it is important for individuals to ask themselves if they can see themselves in that space and history. How or if people feel represented in a place’s history is important and can be either a negative or positive feeling. Another unnamed participant said the flexibility of the space for multigenerational communities was needed in order to be welcoming to newcomers as the demand on the space changes over time. A physical barrier mentioned by another participant was a fence, as well as having transportation to get to and move within a space.

Milstein then asked the audience who they identified as potential partners and how they would engage them. Rodriguez responded by mentioning a strategy that she used in Manhattan parks, which was to have walking meetings. She said three questions need to be asked during these meetings. The first is how the space compares to what they had anticipated prior to experiencing it. The second question is how can they had come to use the space, and the last question is how programs could be used to promote a sense of well-being. This was an effective strategy in Washington Heights, she reported.

Mylynn Tufte from the state of North Dakota said her group discussed having financial institutions as part of the process to better understand their aims. She said they also wanted to bring community members together to compile a list of all assets within a community that might not otherwise be known. Moore added that technology can have impacts across sectors, and it can create opportunities to remove potential barri-

ers. Bonnie Kirker said that inclusivity can be set by policies and, with the right policies in place, create inclusive environments. Russo added that an office of aging may require programming that is inclusive for seniors, for example. Griffin said that there should be consideration as to when and for how long to bring in community members for input. Arredondo added that when Pogo Park creates its spaces, it visits other spaces for inspiration.

Jutte said he and Milstein were working on a report on community health and economic prosperity, with a focus on the roles and responsibilities of private businesses. He said they found that unhealthy communities were actually costing businesses money. He posed the question of what businesses should be doing in response to this. Naughton viewed this issue in terms of competition. That is, whether neighborhoods are able to compete for resources, skilled workers, and investment. Milstein supposed that strong incentives may be attracting workers who are only committed to the paycheck and not the community. He questioned how newcomers are able to feel rooted to a community. Franklin answered by saying this could be possible with an investment in higher education. Arredondo said Richmond utilizes graduate students in public health and planning to help supplement needed expertise. Hughes stated that there have not been clear parameters between “inclusive healthy places and social determinants of health, and health and health equity relating to health and health care.” She said that there are implications for downstream versus upstream interventions.

Ross closed the panel by stating that there is a need for better narratives and more effective communication. She said that media can be a “partner” in telling stories of how various aspects of spaces, such as transportation, can impact health outcomes and racial equity. An unnamed audience member was struck by Erickson’s earlier comment about owning medical risk and how to communicate effectively to encourage business responsibility.