My day at re:Public - NXT City’s Public Space Symposium

What does the future of public space in Toronto look like? Last week, up-and-coming and established urban planners pondered that question as they came together in the heart of Leslieville at District 28 for re:Public, NXT City’s first Public Space Symposium.

The wide array of speakers came from diverse backgrounds, ranging from trendy tech startups to politicians and beyond. Each offered eloquent and inspiring addresses, all pertaining to the common theme of moving Toronto forward.

While the symposium was dense with speakers and panelists holding varying viewpoints, there were a few recurring themes that kept coming up throughout the day. Ultimately, each speaker offered insight on ways that cities can evolve to become more appealing to prospective homebuyers and how to ensure optimal quality of life for those who choose to move in.

One of the symposium’s buzzwords was “choice.” Experts implored that city builders provide residents with options for outdoor activities and transportation to yield more livable cities. The new standards for public space, as described by panelist Harold Madi of Stantec, revolve around this principle.

Madi predicts that in order to attain mass appeal and efficiency, public space now needs to be multi-purpose, adaptable and flexible. All in hopes of creating cities that are more conducive to everyday life. Madi stressed that “if we don’t provide for livability, we are at great risk.”

The need for choice in transportation was explained by Uber GM Sheldon McCormick, who shared the enormous impact that the app has achieved globally. McCormick described the ridesharing movement as “an incredibly important bridge for the future.”

Ridesharing enhances public space by adding a new facet to public transportation and catering to specific needs and wants, borrowing from millennial ideals to craft greater cities.

Still, discussions of transportation often overlook and exclude pedestrians. But speaker after speaker at NXT’s symposium acknowledged the importance of walking and the dire need to reclaim pedestrian spaces in order for residents to authentically experience their city.

Closing speaker Gil Penalosa, Founder of 8 80 Cities, said that great cities encourage residents to sleep at home but live outdoors, regardless of climate. But in order for this feat to be accomplished, especially in Toronto, there is a need for innovation in the public space realm.

Penalosa capped the day with an enthusiastic and thorough speech, where he described the ideal city according to his 8 80 principle, which posits that a city is not safe unless one feels comfortable allowing an 8 year old and an 80 year old to respectively enjoy the outdoors unsupervised.

But how do we encourage people to get outside when technology is providing indoor stimulation? Tech was brought up many times throughout the symposium and it was covered in depth during a panel featuring the founders of Breather, Ranger, and Parkbus.

In a candid discussion, the panel encouraged the audience to embrace technology as they set out to build inviting outdoor spaces in cities across the world. Though technology is often blamed for keeping us indoors, if used effectively, it can democratize spaces and heighten accessibility, broadening the wealth of choices available and making outdoor play more enjoyable for all.

Members of the panel reminded the audience about the importance of balance; planners should seek ways to marry contemporary technology with the natural desire for human interaction and outdoor stimulation.

In order to fully embrace and benefit from technology in public space, we cannot be afraid of its impact. Once fear is stripped away, we can move towards an innovative and inventive future. During his remarks, Oxford VP Lachlan MacQuarrie urged that “today’s ‘wow’ will be tomorrow’s industry standard.”

The standout speech of the symposium came from MP Adam Vaughan, who spoke on the politics of public space. In essence, Vaughan shared that as Toronto develops and density surges, quality of life for Torontonians should do the same. He passionately proclaimed that “if we don’t have strong, thriving cities that work for everybody, we have cities that fail everybody.”

Though Vaughan openly acknowledged the struggles that our city faces, he also encouraged intrepidity among young urban planners and urged us to look towards the imminent silver lining.

The spirit of NXT City’s Public Space Symposium was hopeful. As the day progressed, the question became less about what the future will look like and moreso about who will courageously create the future that we need. By the end of the symposium, guests were empowered to go on and create cities that work for the masses.