Lakeview Low-Line
On Chicago’s North Side, the Lakeview Low-Line demonstrates the power of public art as a tool for transformation. Beneath a half-mile stretch of the city’s muscular ‘L’ tracks, dozens of murals, sculptural seating elements, and interactive light installations soften the urban experience, reawakening land that sat underutilized — and unappreciated — for generations. Led by Public Sphere Projects partner Dillon Goodson, the project combines more than a decade’s worth of public will, grassroots fundraising, and stakeholder buy-in — proving that the best ideas are worth waiting for.
Fayetteville, Arkansas Cultural Plan
As newcomers relocate to Fayetteville, Arkansas, the city’s defining “funk” is in need of being redefined and strengthened. The City of Fayetteville contracted Public Sphere Projects to understand and document its dynamic cultural ecosystem. Key to this work is structuring an inclusive, citywide community engagement process — a way to foster a strong network of constituents, allies, and partners. Our work culminated in a comprehensive “cultural brief” that describes both assets and gaps, providing a framework for further planning and policy decisions.
Downtown Charlottesville, Virginia Strategic Plan
The downtown mall in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a beloved civic space and an icon of landscape architecture. It is also associated with a civic trauma — a divisive protest that turned deadly. Public Sphere Projects worked with Friends of Cville Downtown to reimagine the mall ahead of its 50th anniversary. Our work was guided by twin stars — to preserve the lovely, off-kilter character of place, while grappling publicly with the legacies of political and racial divisions that still haunt it.