What is the future of public space? Hidden stories of immigrant suburbs during a global pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled decision makers to enforce strict physical distancing and isolation measures in order to 'flatten the curve' and contain the spread of the communicable disease These public-health measures have instigated a global conversation amongst urbanists, planners and policy makers about the future of cities in general, and the implications of the pandemic for urban density and the use of public space in particular However, absent from this worldwide discussion have been explicit considerations of how to integrate equity and inclusion into these post-COVID-19 urban futures More specifically, there is a paucity of dialogue on city building and recovery from the perspective of minority groups, and little consideration of how to engage with diverse communities and leverage their knowledge for more equitable and inclusive recovery in local communities COVID-19 has notably exacerbated urban inequalities among marginalized groups, including racial and religious minorities, immigrants and refugees, low-income families, individuals who are food-insecure, the precariously employed, and homeless and/or precariously housed Yet there has been little contemplation of how accessibility to suburban public spaces is changing in the era of COVID-19, and specifically how the proliferation of inaccessible public spaces is unequally affecting minority populations in the suburbs