The term ‘civic infrastructure’ encompasses the public spaces where Americans connect with each other: the parks, trails, town squares, main streets, play spaces, libraries, and other places that are located in every rural, urban and suburban community across the country. These places are an incredible — but often overlooked and underfunded — resource, despite the fact that decades of research show that well-funded, programmed and managed civic infrastructure can help people and communities thrive.
The benefits of civic infrastructure touch many of the social, economic and environmental issues our urban, rural and suburban communities address on a daily basis. Well-funded and managed civic infrastructure can boost local economies, improve people’s health and well-being, reduce crime and violence, increase participation in local governance, and enhance communities’ resilience to climate and natural disaster challenges through things like stormwater management and cooler air temperatures.
For nearly three years, the 24-member Percent for Place coalition (of which Reimagining the Civic Commons is a member) has been both advocating for increased federal funding for civic infrastructure and working to connect community leaders and organizations with new funding opportunities. With demand for civic infrastructure growing, we are thrilled to report that in 2024, there are significant funds available from the federal government for community-driven improvements in civic infrastructure — if community leaders know where to look and how to apply.
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