Abstract

The shared spaces of a city – its parks, squares, libraries and streets – are commonly viewed as “symbols of collective well-being” providing opportunities for people to gather together, to “build sociality and civic engagement out of the encounter between strangers” (Amin, 2008, p. 6). These spaces are recognized as supporting health and well-being through encouraging physical activity (Sallis et al., 2012), and fostering mental health through social engagement, sense of belonging and restorative experiences (Berkman and Kawachi, 2000).