Mission

Founded in 1995, Design Trust for Public Space ("Design Trust"), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the future of public space in New York City, bringing together city agencies, community groups and private sector experts to make a lasting impact--through design--on how New Yorkers live, work and play.

What We Do

Design Trust is at the forefront of shaping NYC's public realm from parks, plazas and streets to city buildings, transportation systems and neighborhoods throughout all five boroughs.

Though diverse in scale and scope, projects share a commitment to civic engagement, social justice, design innovation, and replicability. We believe a vibrant public space is essential to the cultural and democratic life of our city and that public/private partnerships from our RFP/Call for Project Ideas and unique project model are the most effective way to produce actionable recommendations that promote good urbanism and advance our quality of life. We've executed 30 multi-year projects, awarded over 105 fellowships, partnered with over 40 community groups and city agencies, and produced over 55 project deliverables, i.e., publications, websites, workshops, exhibits, and symposia.