Fun in the Sun: Placemaking and Designing in San Diego's Public Realm
The design of the public realm impacts our mental, physical, and social well-being, both as individuals and as communities. What do we need to do in San Diego to improve our surroundings — parks, plazas, public streets, and promenades? When we invest in our public spaces, we do more than improve health and economy — we restore trust in the local institutions that make our democracy work.
The panel, led by Mike Stepner, will discuss what makes a good public space, not only the amenities themselves, but also the necessary infrastructure, such as streets, sidewalks, and surrounding buildings, plus security and maintenance. Placemaking is about programming the spaces with activities that meet the needs of visitors and the surrounding community, and also about the economic value created for that community and the city.
Bill Anderson, FAICP, advises on urban economics and planning as proprietor of CITĒCON. He was San Diego’s director of City Planning & Community Investment, and has served as president of the California Planning Roundtable and the national president of the American Planning Association. Formerly chair of the City of San Diego Planning Commission, Bill currently serves on the boards of the San Diego Parks Foundation and the San Diego River Park Foundation. He also lectures at UC San Diego, focusing on comprehensive planning and urban economics. In senior positions with Economics Research Associates, Planning + Economics in the Americas for AECOM, and City Economics for Arup, Bill has worked on assignments in over 25 states and 9 countries over four decades. He received his bachelor's in economics and political science from Claremont McKenna College and master's in city and regional planning at Harvard. He lives in Mission Hills.
Brooksie Hughes, president of BAH Productions, has worked in event production for more than 30 years and has served as a consultant for public space and placemaking strategies. Among her recent projects have been producing the opening and closing ceremonies of 2024 Arctic Winter Games in Alaska; District Director for Old Sacramento Waterfront (3 yrs.); and, consulting for World Design Capital 2024: San Diego-Tijuana. Current work includes developing activation concepts in Balboa Park. She earned a bachelor's degree in graphic design at Florida State University and lives in Ensenada, Mexico.
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PLEASE NOTE: You may enter NewSchool through the Park Boulevard entrance near G Street for direct access to the lecture in the Roy Drew Room. The event is free and open to the public, but a $5 donation is suggested at the door. Arrive early to enjoy refreshments before a prompt 9:30 AM program start. Please RSVP on the FSDA website if you will attend.
