Place-Keeping

<p><em>Place-Keeping</em> presents the latest research and practice on place-keeping – that is the long-term management of public and private open spaces – from around Europe and the rest of the world. There has long been a focus in urban landscape planning and urban design on the creation of high-quality public spaces or place-making. This is supported by a growing body of research which shows how high-quality public spaces are economically and socially beneficial for local communities and contribute positively to residents’ quality of life and wellbeing.</p><p>However while large amounts of capital are spent on the creation of open spaces little thought is given to and insufficient resources made available for the long-term maintenance and management of public spaces or place-keeping. Without place-keeping public spaces can fall into a downward spiral of disrepair where anti-social behaviour can emerge and residents may feel unsafe and choose to use other spaces. The economic and social costs of restoring such spaces can therefore be considerable where place-keeping does not occur.</p><p><em>Place-Keeping </em>also provides an accessible presentation of the outputs of a major European Union-funded project MP4: Making Places Profitable Public and Private Open Spaces which further extends the knowledge and debate on long-term management of public and private spaces. It will be an invaluable resource for students academics and practitioners seeking critical but practical guidance on the long-term management of public and private spaces in a range of contexts.</p>