Social infrastructure & community design
Research and practical resources exploring how public spaces, transportation, housing, and community environments shape opportunities for people to meet, participate, and build relationships.
Charting a Path to Healthier Societies: Social Connection and Social Infrastructure
World Health Organization, 2025
A global report examining social infrastructure as a key condition for social connection, including public spaces, services, transportation, community resources, and policies that support participation in everyday life.
Read the report: Charting a Path to Healthier Societies
Socially Connected Communities: Solutions for Social Isolation
Healthy Places by Design
A practical report identifying community-level strategies for reducing social isolation and creating conditions that support trust, belonging, and meaningful social connection.
Read the Report: Socially Connected Communities
The State of Public Space in 2025
Project for Public Spaces, 2025
A field report drawing on more than 700 public-space professionals to examine the role shared places can play in strengthening social connection, community resilience, and everyday civic life.
Read the report: The State of Public Space in 2025
Third Places as Community Builders
Brookings Institution
An accessible overview of how informal gathering places such as libraries, parks, cafés, recreation centers, and other everyday spaces can support social interaction and stronger community ties.
Read the article: Third Places as Community Builders
Parks: The Great Unifiers
Trust for Public Land, 2025
A report examining how parks can function as shared civic spaces that bring people together across differences and strengthen social connection, trust, and community life.
Read the report: Parks: The Great Unifiers