The Open Space Sandbox is a gamified co-design tool allowing communities to reimagine public spaces collaboratively. The project’s primary goal is to create a user-friendly, adaptable platform that respects community narratives while
fostering inclusivity and creativity.

The tool prioritizes transparency and voluntary participation, enabling users to visualize their ideas and engage in meaningful dialogue about urban spaces.

Searching for the right pilot parcel has been a journey as layered as the communities it seeks to serve. Initially, the search seemed straightforward—identify a parcel in Philadelphia’s vibrant neighborhoods and offer a fresh way to envision its future. However, as the process unfolded, it became clear that the heart of this work is not just about finding land.

It is about understanding the organic ways communities build their identity and how they interact with the physical spaces that hold those identities.

In the first six months, the Berks Street site in Philadelphia was identified as a pilot location, and the intricate land bank and land acquisition processes were navigated. This involved extensive research into eligibility criteria, application protocols, and compliance requirements to align with local policies while uncovering key administrative challenges communities face. This process identified user experience pain points, highlighting the need for broader systemic interventions. These insights emphasized the importance of equipping communities with tools to collectively navigate acquisition systems, co-design spaces, and develop private market parcels that reflect shared visions and needs.

Highlights include meaningful dialogues with residents and industry specialists, significantly shaping the understanding of challenges and opportunities within the space. Invaluable insights into European Collective Private Commission (CPC) processes and urban technology for community participation were gained from colleagues overseas. Additionally, conversations with US-based social impact founders provided crucial guidance on integrating tools like Open Space Sandbox more deeply into planning practices. These exchanges, alongside the enthusiastic reception of the pilot concept at the CivicTO conference and the completion of the tool’s prototype, underscore the collaborative and innovative nature of the journey so far. Establishing partnerships with grassroots organizations has been another key milestone, setting the stage for the pilot’s continued success.

The project has sparked conversations about communities’ significant challenges in navigating the land bank and land acquisition processes to develop lots for social infrastructure. These discussions have illuminated the administrative and procedural hurdles that hinder progress, particularly for historically underrepresented groups. Community members and industry specialists have expressed genuine excitement about how the Open Space Sandbox could simplify these processes, making planning more accessible and less intimidating.

One significant challenge faced during the project’s early stages was navigating the land bank acquisition process. This involved intricate eligibility requirements, securing approvals, and addressing procedural delays. These challenges highlighted the systemic barriers communities encounter when attempting to acquire and develop land for social infrastructure. To overcome these obstacles, the project’s scope was adjusted to adopt a broader citywide approach, focusing on private market land-acquisition processes.

By shifting attention to the Collective Private Commission (CPC) framework, tools and strategies were developed to streamline acquisition, co-design, and development processes. This approach ensured that intrinsic motivators like cultural pride remained central while offering scalable, systemic solutions.

The next phase involves broadening the project’s scope to adopt a universal, citywide approach through a partnership with Clean and Green Philly. This collaboration focuses on developing a private market open space system, enabling communities to utilize Collective Private Commission (CPC) systems for acquiring, co-designing, and developing social infrastructure. As part of this effort, the administrative interface will be released to the public for free, ensuring accessibility and encouraging broader community use. An education campaign is being developed in partnership with Clean and Green Philly to equip entities such as Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) with knowledge and tools to acquire and co-design vacant lots throughout the city. Knight Foundation funds will support the development of this administrative interface and outreach process.

Workshops and engagement sessions are planned to gather user insights, refine platform features, and establish the citywide framework. Collaborative sessions with the advisory board and community partners will focus on a high-level framework for the private market development system.

About Hayley Oleksiak

Hayley Oleksiak is an urban planner and innovator who fosters community-led development through ethical technological interventions. As a recipient of the Knight Foundation’s Emerging City Champions grant and Northeastern’s Women Who Empower Innovator Award, she is committed to creating tools and strategies that uplift communities to envision their futures. Her work uses technology like gamification to enhance participation and amplify voices traditionally marginalized in urban planning.

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Visit the project website.