The intersection of urban planning, art, and public health: the Sunnyside Piazza

Abstract

Deteriorating physical features of urban environments can negatively influence public health. Dilapidated environments and urban blight tend to promote alienation and can be associated with social disorder, vandalism, crime, drug abuse, traffic violations, and littering, which in turn affects health and well-being. In the late 1990s, the Sunnyside neighborhood in Portland, Ore, was plagued by many of these problems. In an attempt to invigorate neighborhood stewardship, the community organized and created a public gathering place; together, they painted a gigantic sunflower in the middle of an intersection and installed several interactive art features. As a result of these collective actions of "place-making," social capital has increased, thus revitalizing the community, and expanded social networks among residents have stimulated a sense of well-being.

FIGURE 1—

Plan for a community gathering place with sunflower design, trellises for hanging gardens, and planters in the parking lanes to prevent parked cars from reducing the visibility of oncoming traffic.

FIGURE 2—

With the gigantic sunflower in the middle of the intersection drawing people into its center, the Sunnyside Piazza is how a focal point for community events.

FIGURE 3—

Cob art wall, made from clay, straw, sand, and water, and cob kiosk with bulletin board. Mosaics on the wall and in the fountain mimic the sunflower design.