Next time you enjoy a barbeque in the park, take your children to a playground, sit at a library computer or pedal down a bike path, you are participating in the long-held tradition of the commons. A concept that started centuries ago with people sharing land for grazing and hunting, the commons refers to public resources that can be used by anyone.
 
Community gathering places, an important form of the commons, have influenced how American society and democracy have evolved. Strong, civic-minded communities need public spaces where residents can gather — to enjoy an experience, share opinions, learn, celebrate, commune with nature and get to know each other.
 
Think of what a different place the Twin Cities would be without its much-touted park system, libraries, community gardens, bike and walking paths, theaters, galleries and museums. These public spaces help define the character and quality of life of our region, and unite its far-flung, varied communities.
 
Today, as community developers help revitalize neighborhoods not just through real-estate development projects, but also through a broader spectrum of activities called "placemaking,” community gathering spaces are a crucial part of the mix. Formal and informal places for people to congregate are invaluable community assets we can't afford to ignore.

Benefits beyond fun
 
The benefits enjoyed by everyone who uses public spaces go beyond just relaxation and enjoyment. Public spaces are sought after amenities that can attract new residents and businesses to a community, and raise property values. They can improve physical and mental health: Who hasn't experienced the calming effect of a walk in a park after a chaotic day? They can help inform and educate us. They can also help control crime and protect the environment.
 
"We can't take public places for granted," says Andriana Abariotes, executive director of Twin Cities LISC, a local branch of the nation’s largest community development support organization. "And we can't stop creating them, especially in areas where they're in short supply. That includes in lower-income neighborhoods."
 
Public spaces can tell the story of the community. That's why it's important for local residents to help drive the community development agenda. The Twin Cities has dozens of examples of emerging public places — each influenced by its surrounding neighborhoods.

Reinvented theaters; new parks and farms
 
In recent years, a lot of attention has been given to the resurrection of old theaters into lively community arts centers. In the Twin Cities, community developers and resident activists have rescued two beautiful, early 20th-century gems. The legendary Capri Theater on West Broadway on Minneapolis' North Side was renovated into a gathering, education and performance space that hosts events ranging from St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts to hip-hop performances to an acclaimed Legends jazz series. Owned and operated by Plymouth Christian Youth Center, the Capri also hosts community forums and offers an after-school theater arts program.
 
Right now, in St. Paul's Frogtown neighborhood, the decrepit but regal Victoria Theater is experiencing the same kind of community-driven rebirth. Thanks to the Frogtown Neighborhood Association, the Twin Cities Community Land Bank, and the Victoria Theater Arts Initiative, the historic landmark will become a community-owned arts center.

“The Victoria Theater isn’t just going to be a place to come and see a show,” says Caty Royce, executive director, Frogtown Neighborhood Association. “It’s going to be a place where everyone feels welcome to come and interact and be a part of St. Paul’s most diverse community, and be surprised by what they find.”

A great illustration of how parks can help revive an area is the ambitious is Frogtown Farm in St. Paul. Neighborhood leaders have worked with the Trust for Public Land, the City of St. Paul and the Wilder Foundation to acquire a 12.7-acre parcel of land. The land is being developed as a public park and farm in an area with the least amount of green space per child in St. Paul. Residents will not only be able to enjoy a major recreation area, but also benefit from a new nature sanctuary and demonstration farm.
 
Making libraries relevant
 
The renovation of the historic Franklin Library, instrumental in revitalizing Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, showed how you can preserve an important building while making it relevant to today's neighborhood residents — many of whom are Native Americans and recent immigrants. A hive of activity, especially after school when students gather to study there, the library houses the largest collection of American Indian literature in the region. Many libraries, like this one, also provide free meeting rooms for community gatherings.
 
In St. Paul, the creation of the Rondo Community Outreach Library as the ground floor of an affordable housing development has proven a stroke of genius. The library is not only a popular technology and learning hub for immigrants living in the area, but also for families who want to support the educational achievement of their children. The library also offers a resource center for entrepreneurs in the Rondo-Frogtown area who want to establish and grow their businesses.
 
Community meeting spaces
 
The recently opened East Side Enterprise Center, a support hub for entrepreneurs and small business owners on the East Side of St. Paul, has earmarked several large, beautiful spaces for community use. Prior to the center, free public meeting space was hard to come by in the neighborhood. Dayton's Bluff Community Council and the Latino Economic Development Center spearheaded the center’s development.
 
The six affordable apartment buildings that make up St. Paul's Rolling Hills are home to many refugees. When the complex underwent renovation recently, owners including Lutheran Social Services made certain that structural changes contributed to a better quality of life for residents. That meant adding not only a convenient on-site health clinic, but also community rooms and a community garden.

Art galleries for community gatherings
 
One of the most innovative public spaces created in recent years is All My Relations Gallery on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, an area that boasts one of the largest urban American Indian populations in the country. The development of the gallery was led by the Native American Community Development Institute, but grew out of a neighborhood improvement and cultural corridor plan that came directly from members of the community.
 
Today, the gallery is a beautiful space where people from all over the Twin Cities can view the latest work of contemporary American Indian artists. The gallery also sponsors classes and events that bring arts to youth and elders through the creation of murals, art cars, tours, artists’ talks, and a Community/Youth Art gallery in the adjacent coffee shop.
 
On Minneapolis' North Side, Juxtaposition Arts runs a multifaceted training center where neighborhood youth can learn art skills they can turn into careers, as well as exhibit and sell their creative products. Juxtaposition’s recently expanded gallery space — and its entire campus — welcome local residents and visitors to share in the youths' creative development, and to celebrate special events like the North Side Art Crawl.
 
"These are the kinds of community-driven efforts to develop public spaces in lower-income areas that we need to support," says Abariotes. "The difference that a community garden, a children's playground, a renovated library or a new bike path can make in a struggling neighborhood can't be overstated. They give people pride in their community, and a sense of ownership, belonging and long-term stewardship. They’re a crucial part of a good quality of life." 
 
Gayle Thorsen is a communications consultant and writer for Twin Cities' nonprofits and philanthropies. She was former vice president for communications at The Minneapolis Foundation and communications director at The McKnight Foundation. Her website is: ImpactMax