What?
Long Beach partnered with its LGBTQ community to develop Harvey Milk Promenade Park and Equality Plaza.
It is much more than a public space honoring an icon of the gay-rights movement. It also will be an example of civic innovation in action.
Everything about the park — from the memorial wall honoring local LGBT leaders to the placement of ping-pong tables — was co-designed with the public. In addition, the city used an innovative procurement process to purchase the park’s outdoor furniture, one that allowed residents to try out tables, chairs, and mobile-device charging stations before the city invested taxpayer money.
Takeaway
Co-design every step of the way, using creative and public means like events led to a completely distinct, much celebrated outcome from what city planners anticipated.