OBJECTIVE B THE PEDESTRIAN REALM IS ACTIVE AND VIBRANT
Visually active and physically permeable frontages increase activity along the street, making the pedestrian realm feel more vibrant and safe for caregivers walking during the day and the evening hours. This means having ground-floor activities and services, visual transparency between the buildings and the street, public entrances, and good lighting. Additionally, blank walls, especially along routes frequented more often by caregivers and their small children, can provide an opportunity for storytelling and brain stimulation through public art projects such as colorful murals. Residential neighborhoods with windows facing the street have just as much visually active frontage as a bustling shopping strip. Designing diverse building frontages and adding interactive urban design solutions like small rest and play nooks and lighting can help animate the frontage zone for the comfort and safety of caregivers and young children. Activating the public realm requires that it is clean and wellmaintained so that caregivers feel comfortable bringing their children into those spaces.
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