Amanda Burden: How public spaces make cities work

More than 8 million people are crowded together to live in New York City. What makes it possible? In part, it's the city's great public spaces -- from tiny pocket parks to long waterfront promenades -- where people can stroll and play. Amanda Burden helped plan some of the city's newest public spaces, drawing on her experience as, surprisingly, an animal behaviorist. She shares the unexpected challenges of planning parks people love -- and why it's important.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

[kendomyers]

any politics aside, a government employee that takes that much time to walk around and learn and listen is a good government employee

bravo

[reynacaraveo]

"details really do make a difference, but design is not just how something looks, its how you feel in this space."

[srimansrini]

Amanda Burden is on the verge of making concrete jungles to real jungle. Certainly a commendable job. This is how the city planners should think about while designing their cities. Keeping aside the commercial interest, the real architect should give importance to the public interest by creating 'meaningful and enjoyable public places for the people. Highly recommended.

[Hombolicious]

She made an 18minute Tedtalk about ubran planning and public spaces in New York and It was intersting for 18minutes.

[Chrome]

This woman's vision, and those like it, need to be kept in the public consciousness!

[IAmJopert]

I wanna do what she does. New York's public spaces, especially the High Line, have always inspired me. I want to take the same ideas to my own city.

[mikewadley]

Amanda, you hit the nail on the head. Planning is about people!!!!

[elquemando]

Thank you, Amanda. Don't back down. Keep NYC livable.

[yookyungchang]

I don't live in NY, but it was so touching to see someone working so hard for everyone to enjoy more of their life. Thank you for your work. Truly inspiring.

[hellozup]

I got teary eyed listening to this talk.. public space should never be taken for granted

[kamogadouglas]

"How do you transform a space into a place where people want to be.
Well it's up to you, not as a city planner but as a human being. You don’t tap into your Design expertise, but into you humanity. I mean, could you want to go there, would want to stay there, can you see into it and out of it, are there people there, does it seem green and friendly. Can you find, Your Very Own seat." - Amanda Burden

This is the most passionate city planner I have ever seen.

[bevankoelmeyer]

As a student urban planner I found her very inspiring

[imakemusique]

Another important aspect of public spaces for people to interact is that it removes some of the barriers between it`s inhabitants and further grows connectedness. If we only interact on our social media we miss the chance to get a true connection with someone we might not have engaged with in the 1st place.

[PatHowlett]

This makes me want to plan to trip to NY and visit these parks - and in frankness I've never really wanted to visit NY before.

[rebrav]

Brilliant visions put into action. Such an amazing, passionate woman.

[paddyl]

I totally agree, further more it's important for HEALTHY citizens, you need to have space which are attractive and fun to be in to get people out and walking around and moving their body, which we of course know is so important for health. Not only that but mental health is so dependent on a persons interaction with their enviroment and people, these spaces affect all these things in an important an positive way!

[caroller]

London UK needs an Amanda Burden! No-one else there has anywhere near her vision, her values, her commitment, her skills.

[fijigang]

I love the message she put out. People want to stay in a city with close public parks and public places to relax. More parks equal more residences for that city, especially a beautiful one like this.

[bielmark]

Oh my God, the passion in her voice! Made me wish I could be a city planner

[callmeswivelhips]

Replace a well designed and well placed park with a mall and concrete, and watch how quickly all those tourists disappear. People don't come to shop, they come for the public space. It's funny how developers can look at amazing public spaces and just want to tear them down for commercial interests, which would actually reduce the income of the city. Why? Because the reasons people had to come were bulldozed and replaced with concrete slabs.