Bend
the
Rules
by OpenCity Projects
Photo: Michi McCloskey
Informal permission lets people contribute to how the streetscape is shaped and transform it based on their needs
Leaving room for people to participate in shaping their public spaces is critical for culturally diverse communities. This may require people to bend the rules from time-to-time, and circumvent bureaucratic process, but it gives them a sense that they have a say and a sense of ownership of their public space.
Toronto’s bohemian Kensington Market is a perfect example of this. People often describe the unique district saying that “anything goes.” People put seating on their front stoop and have impromptu concerts while people meander up and down the streets. Kensington has an important underground arts scene that reflects a diversity of citizens who engage and interact in the space, often without the required permits. This informal permission lets people contribute to how the streetscape is shaped and transform it based on their needs.
Scadding Court Community Centre is another example. The vibrant outdoor market, created from retrofitted shipping containers, was once a dead zone in front of a high-traffic street and a concrete-block community centre. Working with the city councilor and residents, the community centre’s executive director took a risk in creating a space that would animate the surrounding area while providing affordable opportunities for small start-up businesses to sell international foods. The transformation of this public space helped to foster a sense of ownership of the space, enabling various cultural groups to better use and adapt the space to their needs.
It may not be possible to bend the rules in every city’s public spaces. But for Kensington Market and Scadding Court Community Centre, bending the rules enabled these public spaces to evolve quickly to fit the needs of their communities. As a result, these places have invited greater participation, sparking a sense of ownership and community.
