Unlocking the Potential of New York City's Public Space

Established in 1995 by Andrea Woodner, the Design Trust for Public Space was founded with a mission to bring design expertise to the public realm, when public space was often considered an afterthought. Since our inaugural project to develop design guidelines for the Brooklyn Public Library, the Design Trust and its collaborative initiatives can be felt and experienced across the city, from parks and plazas to streets and public buildings. Our work includes jump-starting the High Line’s conversion from derelict railway to the beloved elevated park it is today, initiating the Community Design School in Queens, developing the Design Manual for 21st Century Parks which became the precursor to OneNYC, New York City’s plan to become the most resilient, and equitable city in the world, and Turnout NYC, an initative to bring arts and culture access to public spaces.

Celebrating our 30th birthday in 2025, today we are a nationally-recognized incubator that transforms and evolves the city's landscape with city agencies and community collaborators.  In recognition of public space’s importance in building New York’s next great chapter, the organization is raising $1,000,000 over the next two years to ensure that future generations can gather together in community, fully participate in New York’s cultural life, and benefit from the many impacts of high-quality public space. Learn more about our vision for the next 30 at designtrust.org