Foreword by David Engwicht (Former CBD Place Maker for City of Wodonga)
Living Well Together is part of what place making is about, and I have seen firsthand the ways in which pets can be part of our efforts to revitalise local communities.
Dogs are destined to play a role in the revitalisation of the main street of Wodonga.
Sixteen months ago I was employed by the City of
In case you are wondering what a Place Maker does, it is very much like being a home maker. Homemaking turns a house into a home, while place making turns a space (such as a street) into a place. The art of place making, like the art of homemaking, involves creating an environment that nurtures both inhabitants and visitors. This is not primarily about the design of the space, because, just as the best interior design in the world does not necessarily result in a house becoming a home, the best architecture and design does not make a space a place. It’s more about making people feel welcome and valued, or throwing a great party.
In trying to turn High Street into one of the great public spaces in
In place making, dogs play a much greater role than just ‘conversation starter’ or ‘social lubricant’. One of the secrets of place making is to get people to slow down. If people take twice as long to get from A to B, the street will look twice as full, without attracting a single extra customer.
As a place maker, my job is to deliver a memorable experience. Dogs can help create that memorable experience for many people, especially for children.
In Living Well Together you will find lots of case studies of how cities, towns and neighbourhoods are using pets to improve the well being of communities and build social capital. It is a timely reminder that we often think that creating great places, great streets and great parks requires big, expensive plans, when in fact, it is the simple things that help us live well together.
DAVID ENGWICHT
Former