My definition of public space

Many public spaces in the center of a city have served to bring together all people of the city. Benjamin Barber, a writer for the well known magazine The Nation perfectly states the purpose of a public space by saying, “Entertainment and commerce are necessary and important, but they "work" because people are drawn into public spaces for other reasons: to play in the company of others, to watch one another and see others with fresh vision (here the fabulous red stairs atop the TKTS booth at Forty-seventh Street make a splendid start), to interact with strangers, to get out of private space and into common space.” (Barber) Also, the purpose of a public space should be to bring together a community. This idea stems from the article “If you build it, they will come” by Jay Walljasper. The article defines public space as a place to “meet, talk, sit, look, relax, play, stroll, flirt, eat, drink, smoke, people watch, read, soak in sunshine and feel part of a broader whole. They (public spaces) are the starting point for all community, commerce and democracy.” (Walljasper.)