Published on August 18, 2024 by Laura Iruegas
Societies around the world are becoming more disconnected, fragmented and conflicted. Could parks, libraries, and schoolgrounds be part of the solution?
According to Eric Klinenberg, the answer is yes.
Eric Klinenberg
Klinenberg is the Helen Gould Shepard Professor of Social Science and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. His research shows that the way public places like schools and green spaces are planned, designed and programmed can shape the way we interact with people and the environment in powerful ways. In his book Palaces for the People, Eric notes that when public places are set up to promote social connection, for example, through regularly scheduled markets, strangers become familiar faces and networks of friendships and mutual support can bloom.
In anticipation of Eric’s participation in the 2024 Evergreen Conference, we asked him about his deeply researched conception of “social infrastructure” and how it can solve for multiple crises, how he translates his work into actionable information for policymakers and what he hopes attendees will take away from his session, Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life.
In your book Palaces for the People, you emphasize the importance of social infrastructure. Can you explain what social infrastructure is and how it can help address social problems such as crime, isolation, and climate change?
“When I say social infrastructure, I’m referring to the physical places that shape our interactions — places like libraries, parks, playgrounds, and swimming pools. The argument in my book is that when we invest in social infrastructure, we get all kinds of returns to our civic culture and collective life.
In neighborhoods, strong social infrastructure means that people gather together more often, bringing eyes onto the street and building bonds of social support. When we neglect social infrastructure, we’re more likely to hunker down and get isolated. It’s a lot harder to solve shared problems, from crime to climate change, when we’re on our own.”
Kids and parents gather in the Children’s Garden at Evergreen Brick Works for Weekend Nature Play.
Can you share one example that illustrates the transformative impact of social infrastructure on a community?
“I always ask people to imagine what their neighborhood would be like without playgrounds. Anyone who has been a parent – or a child! – knows how essential playgrounds are for building friend groups and communities. Try to estimate how many relationships in your city exist because two families met while pushing kids on the same swing set or watching them climb a jungle gym. Thousands? Tens of thousands? Millions? It’s a massive number, and it’s only possible because cities have invested in these shared spaces.”
As a sociologist and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University, how do you translate your research into actionable information for practitioners and policymakers? Why is this important?
“I’ve always been interested in doing scholarship that can make a difference in the real world, not just adding to the bookshelves in the ivory tower. I think a lot about communication. How can I write so that people outside of my field will be able to understand my arguments and engage in the conversation? How can public speaking help? I also keep my ear to the ground wherever I spend time, and especially where I live and work. The questions that sociologists ask often come from dilemmas that ordinary people face on a daily basis.”
The Evergreen Conference will be a gathering of over 600 people from across sectors including policymakers, NGO’s, Indigenous leaders, architects, urban planners and community advocates. What do you hope attendees will take away from your session?
“My main goal for the talk is to introduce a new way of seeing what makes our cities and communities work, and also to suggest concrete things we can build to improve social conditions right now. I know a lot of people are concerned that society has become more isolated, atomized, lonely and dangerous. Another world is possible, and I want my work to suggest a way forward.”
As we prepare for the Evergreen Conference this fall, Eric’s work is a reminder that the future of our cities depends on how we design and use public spaces. The strength of our cities and communities lies not just in their physical infrastructure but in the social bonds that these spaces nurture. By investing in social infrastructure, we can create environments that bring people together, foster connection and build resilience against the challenges of our time.”
