Public Realm Definition

The public realm includes all exterior places, linkages and built form elements that are physically and/or visually accessible regardless of ownership. These elements can include, but are not limited to, streets, pedestrian ways, bikeways, bridges, plazas, nodes, squares, transportation hubs, gateways, parks, waterfronts, natural features, view corridors, landmarks and building interfaces.

The public realm is organized into four categories: parks, streetscapes, coastal areas and public places. Definitions for these categories are as follows:

• Parks - Public open spaces within a community for recreational use. Parks may include natural areas such as mountain ridges and wadi systems.
• Streetscapes - The visual elements of a street including the road, sidewalk, street furniture, trees and open spaces that combine to form the street’s character.
• Coastal Areas - All land areas along the water’s edge.
• Public Places - All open areas within a community visible to the public or for public gathering or assembly.

The main purpose of Part I is to designate a clear path to public realm development. Part II of the PRDM expands on this basis for planning.