public space

The Project for Public Spaces (PPS) has released a book titled The Great Neighborhood Book. The PPS works with public spaces such as parks and town squares, but applies many of Oldenburg's concepts from The Great Good Place.

Part of the book description reads,

Neighborhoods decline when the people who live there lose their connection and no longer feel part of their community. Recapturing that sense of belonging and pride can be as simple as planting a civic garden or placing some benches in a park.

I started to think about the many neighborhood churches I drive past every week, and wonder how much they are really a part of their neighborhoods.

Then I considered my own church. Our leadership has a vision to become a regional church, so our new facility is at the intersection of two major highways in a business district. I know a lot of churches that are on the edge of town, or in a "downtown" area surrounded by businesses. These churches, however, still have neighbors - they're just not residential neighbors.

We talk a lot in the Church about reaching into our communities, but are we being neighbors? Are we letting our communities similarly reach into us? Parks are nice, but what about winter? Or rain? Or lunch breaks? People don't want to be reached because it feels too much like being sold or marketed. People want to be loved, appreciated, valued, entertained, neighbors.

Third place space is becoming more common in ministry facilities, but becoming a neighbor may add a new, twofold challenge.

The first is to make sure your third place space is what your neighborhood needs. If you're in a residential area, you would probably do well with a competitive coffee service, snacks, and WiFi. If you're in a business district, you probably want to be able to serve lunch and simplify the beverage menu.

The second is to deliberately use your third place space. Rather than just design, build, and operate it - develop it. Host open mic nights, business conferences, public speakers, sports nights - whatever your neighbors are looking for - and start building (or strengthening) a sense of community in your neighborhood.