A Study about Public Participation in the Universal Design of Public Spaces

Abstract

Through a partnership between civil society stakeholders and the various project design teams, specific objectives related to the universal design of public spaces are better discussed, with the aim of providing more resources to marginalized community members who feel left behind and exploited by existing design concepts. Public spaces which are properly and adequately designed could contribute to ensuring equal opportunity for all groups of people in the community and help boost social mobility. Consequently, finding suggestions about the appropriate design of public spaces for all groups of people with the support of public engagement should be a basic prerequisite requirement for providing community facilities. Within this scope the analysis of a case study of High-Line Project in New York, USA, as a part of a regeneration project that has utilized the universal design well through the inclusion of the society is evaluated. In brief it can be suggested that universal design is an efficient tool for boosting social sustainability via creating urban environments for the usage of a wide range of all individuals as much as possible and public engagement must be a part of this design process.