Modern urban societies have become fragmented environments consisting of individuals. Here theoretical accounts and case studies address whether making public spaces more accessible can restore the social fabric of the city, highlighting key projects across the world.

1. Introduction Part 1: Changing Nature of Public Space in City Centres 2. Less Public Than Before? Public Space Improvement in Newcastle City Centre 3. Youth Participation and Revanchist Regimes: Redeveloping Old Eldon Square, Newcastle upon Tyne 4. Can Public Space Improvement Revive the City Centre? The Case of Taichung, Taiwan 5. Change in the public spaces of traditional cities: Zaria, Nigeria Part 2: Public Space and Everyday Life in Urban Neighbourhoods 6. Marginal Public Spaces in Europe 7. Gating the Streets: The Changing Shape of Public Spaces in South Africa 8. Public Spaces within Modern Residential Areas in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 9. The Design and Development of Public Open Spaces in an Iranian New Town 10. Making Public Space in Low Income Neighbourhoods in Mexico 11. Co-Production of Public Space: Redefinition of Social Meaning, the Case of Nord-Pas de Calais, France 12. Whose Public Space?

"This is a useful, informative and engaging text covering the range of current threats and future opportunities facing urban public space. Two features which distinguish it from many other texts on urban space and redevelopment are that it gives a wide range of examples from across the developed and developing world, and it illustrates examples within different city locations beyond city centres; in inner cities as well as peripheral or marginal public spaces." – Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design"Overall this is a useful, informative and engaging text covering the range of current threats and future opportunities facing urban public space. Two features which distinguish it from many texts on urban space and redevelopment are that it gives a wide range of examples from across the develpoed and developing world, and it illustrates examples within different city locations beyond city centres: in inner cities as well as peripheral or marginal public spaces. As a relatively affordable paperback text, upper level undergraduates and postgraduates following urban development, regeneration, design and planning courses and modules will find this collection an informative supplementary text focusing on one of the important aspects of urban change. It will also be of interest to urban professionals involved in the planning, design, maintenance and management of accessible and inclusive urban spaces as key elements of the contemporary city landscape." - Andrew Tallon, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of the West of England.