Measuring Placemaking Impacts

B. Kathleen Gallagher is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Texas Tech University where she teaches courses in public administration and nonprofit management. Her research explores how public and nonprofit organizations use community assets, like arts and culture, to make communities buzz.Leigh Nanney Hersey is an Associate Professor at the University of Louisiana Monroe, specializing in public administration and nonprofit management. Her research bridges arts, culture, philanthropy, and public policy, focusing on how the arts foster community development and civic engagement. Dr. Hersey’s applied scholarship provides actionable insights to enhance the sustainability of the vibrant arts sector.

"This book offers a practical roadmap for communities seeking to build vibrant places through collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based evaluation. By blending theory with hands on practical guidance, the authors illustrate how public-private partnerships, accountable governance, and thoughtful evaluation design can transform placemaking from an aspirational idea into measurable community impact. This book is a valuable resource for public administrators and practitioners alike."David Orr, City Manager, City of Texarkana, Texas, USA and Adjunct Professor at Texas A&M University-Texarkana"Through a rich account of the motivation, methods, and advantages of placemaking as policy action, Gallagher and Hersey largely define, and give much needed clarity to, placemaking as a public process. Readers, and ultimately placemaking projects, will benefit from a nuanced understanding of the ways in which governments may and should lead placemaking as a tool for strengthening civil society."Kate Keeney, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, University of Maryland"Measuring Placemaking Impacts provides essential support for students, scholars, and practitioners seeking to understand the impact of placemaking projects. Gallagher and Hersey balance the complex, subjective, and experiential impact of placemaking with the need for valid measurement and rigorous evaluation, while connecting to the core values of public service. I will be using this text in the MPA classroom as well as to support grantseeking for community projects!"Kristina M. Patterson, Assistant Professor, Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies, Georgia Southern University

• Part I. The theory and practice of placemaking 1. A brief history of placemaking 2. Towards a theory of placemaking 3. Placemaking: The importance of cross-sector collaboration 4. Evaluating placemaking: Ensuring transparency and accountability 5. Evaluation design and research methods Part II. Placemaking policy and politics 6. State-level policies, programs, and evaluation 7. Evaluating rural placemaking: The role of partnerships in building community and assessing impact 8. Municipal placemaking initiatives and evaluation 9. Cross-sector placemaking collaborations and evaluation Part III. Developing a customized evaluation plan 10. How to develop a customized evaluation system to measure placemaking impact Conclusion