Kira Strong of Highline Network & Bridget Marquis of Reimagining Civic Commons

What does it take to turn forgotten infrastructure into places people love? And how are parks and public space leaders growing a movement to truly bring people together?   In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Bridget Marquis and Kira Strong, two national leaders shaping the future of public space.   Kira Strong is Executive Director of the Highline Network, a coalition of 46 of the best parks and trails in the country that together attract almost 50 million visitors a year. Bridget Marquis leads Reimagining the Civic Commons, a remarkable coalition of 11 communities working to make public assets work harder and produce more for cities.   Bridget and Kira share how investing in parks, trails, and civic assets can unlock social connection, economic opportunity, and environmental impact. We explore why “hosting” matters as much as design, how small interventions can build trust in communities, and why the public realm may be the most overlooked tool cities have to bring people together.   Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.