The Science of Happiness How Cities Can Make Space for Awe
Apr 9, 2026
Setha Low, anthropologist and CUNY professor who studies public space and inclusion, and Blaine Merker, urban designer who helped create San Francisco’s first parklet, explore how small changes to streets can spark connection and awe. They talk about parklets, guerrilla urban interventions, green streets improving health, and how open public spaces support belonging and democracy.
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Public Space 'Stickiness' Predicts Social Life
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First Parklet Grew From A Two-Hour Guerrilla Experiment
- Blaine Merker and friends converted a metered downtown parking spot into San Francisco's first parklet in 2005 as a two-hour guerrilla park experiment.
- They unloaded real sod, a 20-foot box tree, and a bench, watched office workers gradually sit, take off shoes, and gather, sparking broad interest and a how-to manual.
Turn Temporary Projects Into Replicable Templates
- Create open-source templates and clear values to spread civic interventions widely.
- Blaine published a how-to manual, urged generosity and inclusivity, and worked with city officials to create a formal Parklet permit pilot.
