Public Space Design
& Placemaking

Public spaces shape how we move, gather, and connect. At CV Urban, we work with cities, developers, and mission-driven organizations to transform everyday environments—parks, plazas, trails, and waterfronts—into meaningful places that foster inclusion, well-being, and civic identity. These shared spaces are essential infrastructure, supporting social connection, local culture, and public health.

By combining evidence-based design with community insight, we activate underutilized areas and elevate their purpose. Our process balances vision and pragmatism—creating spaces that are accessible, enduring, and loved by the people who use them.

  • Community Placemaking Strategy

  • Public Space Visioning

  • Park & Plaza Design Concepts

  • Cultural Landscape Assessments

  • User Experience & Wayfinding Studies

  • Mobility & Accessibility Integration

  • Community Engagement & Pop-Up Outreach

  • Green Infrastructure & Shade Planning

A Focused Approach

We approach urban development with a human-centered lens. Our goal is to create vibrant, connected, and resilient public spaces that enhance daily life—whether through thoughtful design, improved mobility, or climate-conscious planning.

Placemaking that Prioritizes People

We build plans that start with people. CV Urban integrates qualitative data, such as interviews and community input, with quantitative tools like foot traffic and transportation analysis. This helps our team shape public spaces that are well-loved, well-used, and culturally relevant. By centering design around everyday use—whether it’s shade in a plaza or access to trails—we bring life to the built environment and ensure that investments are driven by local needs, not just top-down mandates.

Mobility-First Thinking

Public spaces are only as strong as the connections that support them. That’s why CV Urban includes pedestrian, cycling, and transit planning as a core part of our service in this sector. Whether advising on new multimodal corridors or redesigning streetscapes to slow traffic and increase safety, we help make movement through the city easier, greener, and more equitable. Our plans take into account both infrastructure and behavior, with strategies that encourage active transportation and reduce car dependency.

Designing for Climate Resilience

Parks and plazas play a key role in managing stormwater, reducing heat, and creating healthier cities. CV Urban incorporates green infrastructure, climate projections, and sustainability metrics into every plan. From reforestation projects to permeable surfaces and bioswales, we identify nature-based solutions that strengthen resilience and reduce long-term maintenance costs. The result: spaces that are not only beautiful but functional, future-proofed, and cost-effective over time.

Did you know?

San Juan offers more than 1,300 square feet of green space per resident, aligning closely with cities like Boston and Miami, highlights the city’s commitment to integrating green spaces within its urban landscape.

(Source)

Why it matters in Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, the design and upkeep of public space is closely tied to economic development, tourism, and disaster recovery. Many towns across the island are working to revitalize downtown cores, reconnect neighborhoods, and create places that draw people in. CV Urban brings strategic support to these goals. We work with local and regional governments to assess current conditions, identify funding sources, and engage residents in co-creating a shared vision.

 

Whether it’s activating a waterfront in Ponce or restoring a neglected park in a rural municipality, our plans aim to restore pride and encourage foot traffic while aligning with federal guidelines and resiliency benchmarks. Given the unique challenges of Puerto Rico—from coastal vulnerability to shifting population patterns—we offer grounded, realistic solutions that respond to both urgency and opportunity.