Social Daylighting
Clearing the curb space next to a crosswalk and upgrading that space with cafe seating, benches, or exercise equipment benefits neighborhoods with limited sidewalk space, public seating, park access, pedestrian plazas, and neighborhoods with a high percentage of parents of young children, older or disabled residents, and residents living in poverty. (Overcrowded housing may leave less space for socializing at home.) Adding even the smallest public spaces to a neighborhood provides the opportunity to connect with neighbors, enjoy the outdoors, people-watch, or stop and rest.
Case Study: Mariner's Harbor and Graniteville, Staten Island
The neighborhoods of Mariner's Harbor and Graniteville have half as many parks, fewer benches and pedestrian plazas, and less sidewalk space than the average New York City neighborhood. With just 38% of residents living within walking distance of a park, 87% fewer benches per person than the average neighborhood, and just one in ten residents living within walking distance of a pedestrian plaza, residents in Mariner’s Harbor and Graniteville would dramatically benefit from social daylighting at every intersection.
