ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how young people between the ages of 10 and 16 living in Regent Park, Toronto define and value neighbourhood public space. Findings reveal that contemporary principles guiding public housing renewal do not match how young people interpret public space. The qualities blamed for public housing failure, like physical and social isolation, are identified as valuable attributes of local public spaces. The chapter focuses on how young people are positioned in relation to planning, however, the same critiques could also be made of other professions associated with the built environment, including architecture, urban design and engineering. It looks at the intersection of the position of young people in the planning process, the design and function of public space and urban regeneration. The intent is to place more emphasis than usual on examining how young people living in public housing define and perceive neighbourhood public spaces and how these translate into planning practice.
