The best places are those that are welcoming to people of all ages, from babies in strollers to the elderly. All ages can be found in families, so when you see a family enjoying their time together somewhere, you know you've stumbled upon a great place that has something for everyone.
A playground is only for children and a bar is only for adults, but a park with sculptures to climb on and coffee shops to chat in and play areas to run around is a multi-layered place for all. These are the kinds of places we need more of because they are key to bringing everyone together.
Families on Sidewalks
Sidewalks are our most expansive public spaces and the ones that connect all the others. Sidewalks should therefore be places that we not only feel safe being, but where we feel comfortable and welcome being. One of the most important indicators of a good sidewalk is when we see families with strollers or with small children hanging out there.
In particular, when children are allowed to roam free without worried parents hovering over them, it means the parents understand that the sidewalk is sufficiently safe. And if a sidewalk is good enough for the smallest and most vulnerable members of society, it's good for everyone.
Families at Intersections
Intersections are unique points along the sidewalk, especially because they are where the sidewalk transitions into the street. For families with children in tow, intersections can be particularly tricky. Safe and engaging intersections are key to making families feel comfortable and secure spending time outdoors.
Notice that all the people are part of a group or family. There is not one person walking here alone.
This intersection in Delray Beach, Florida is our favorite. It is the main gathering place on the main street, Atlantic Avenue. The majority of people who pass through here are families, friends, and couples. Groups like to linger and chat at this spot because it is a place that feels comfortable and electrified with energy.
The intersection is full of restaurants with outdoor seating, street trees, benches, and friendly characters. People at this intersection are in their element. They are comfortable, engaged, and happy to be there.
Families in parks
A great park is one where there isn't only green space and water features to look at, but one where everyone can relax and have a good time in the way they enjoy doing so. In these expansive public places, there should be options available for everyone – play areas and activities for energetic kids, cafés for the chatting adults, comfortable seats for gossiping friends, petanque for sociable elderly people, etc.
Stockholm's Kungsträdgården is a lovely park that is a center for family gatherings. It has a large popular water feature that is also used as a major event space, a performance stage and amphitheater seating for events, a skating rink in the winter, and focal points that people love to gather at.
A centerpiece in the square's amphitheater are the lion statues. These are a particularly fun feature because of their "climbability" and they are a draw for kids, and therefore families, year-round.
Fred Kent
Families eating out together
Places to eat come in all shapes and sizes, from formal indoor restaurants with waiter service to outdoor kiosks without any seating at all. The family-friendly eateries are those that are flexible to the diverse needs of the different members of the family.
Kids want to run and play while adults prefer to sit with their drinks, so an outdoor restaurant, café, or ice cream shop with comfortable seating that is far from cars, and close to play areas for children, is the ideal spot for families that want to share a snack or meal together. We see such eateries embedded in public spaces like parks and waterfronts all around the world.
Families playing together
When families spend time together, they don't just want to discuss serious topics or eat quickly and go home. They want to have fun. They want to make memories. Great places are those that make this possible. Sculptures to climb, space to run around, landmarks to take photos with, and games to play, all add fun to a space and attract families of all sizes who want to enjoy their time together.
Families at markets
Markets are fantastic places for families. They are destinations to shop at and explore in a casual way where the restrictive in-store rules of "don't touch that" and "don't run around" don't usually apply. Children and adults alike can explore the large variety of goods and crafts presented at a market without being confined by walls and small spaces. Kids can run freely and interact with business owners in a relaxed atmosphere. Whole families can gather to eat at the table area while the dynamic energy of the market carries on around them.
Markets are also great places to interact with the community and allow families from the area to meet each other. Everyone can make new friends, share news about the neighborhood, and truly engage in the "it takes a village" concept of raising children communally.
Kathy Madden
Families just hanging out
Sometimes families just want to spend time together without a plan or specific destination in mind. In order to do this, they gravitate to places that feel comfortable and pleasant and then just see where the day takes them. Public places that offer amenities like shade, seating, safe streets, and options for refreshment create the perfect conditions for hanging out and casually enjoying the day, no matter who you're arm in arm with.
Family is one of the most important things in the world. To get us connecting with and enjoying our time with our family, there need to be places where it is safe, pleasant, accessible, and interesting to do so. Public places that offer options for every member of the family to enjoy themselves are the best places to hang out with our loved ones and make memories that last a lifetime.
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Kathy Madden
Kathy Madden
Fred Kent
Fred Kent
Fred Kent
Fred Kent
