Photo: Adair Rutledge

A place where the murals mirror your culture, the food at community gatherings comes from your favorite local spot, and every detail reflects the stories of your neighbors. Power-packed public lands, right in our backyard. 

That’s the vision behind creative placemaking. Take it from TPL's Daniela Paz Peterson, a community leader in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She helps bring people together through what we call creative placemaking—designing parks that reflect the culture and spirit of the community. 

Daniela hosts community brainstorms for park design, and she has an important rule: The food at these gatherings must come from within a mile of the park. Why? Because local bites bring neighbors together.

She also leads Chattanooga’s Park Listeners program, where team members meet residents where they are—at churches, schools, and community centers, in English or Spanish, to learn what people really want from their parks.  

One idea we hear again and again: more lighting at night, so families who get off work late still have time to enjoy the park together. 

Creative placemaking isn’t just happening in Chattanooga. We’re engaging with residents in dozens of communities nationwide—from Chicago and Denver to Houston and beyond.

By listening first, we ensure each park reflects local culture, meets real needs, and fosters belonging. With your support, we can make every park into a place that feels at home.

Your friends at Trust for Public Land  

How important is your local park to you?