Community engagement helped the design project leaders understand community needs and desires. We wanted involvement from people historically excluded from design of public spaces and so we asked, “Who do we need to listen to more?” We identified residents who identify as BIPOC, youth, disabled, and trans. We knew we needed to change our approach to change the results. A staff member reminded us, “Deep community engagement is inconvenient.” It takes time, resources, and it’s messy.

Our equity-centered community engagement was structured yet organic. We and partner LSE Architects created a strategy that paired traditional approaches with a non-traditional artist’s cohort, youth-led focus groups, and pop-up events to get surveys to target communities. The artist cohort participated in SPPL’s engagements and created their own, like interactive Dream Boards to reach voices not typically heard. In the words of one artist, “Artists bring people to the conversation...imagine possibilities...know place.”

This equity-centered approach resulted in library designs that reflect community’s desire for spaces that maximize accessibility, are environmentally responsible, and reflect the cultures of the community. This engagement resulted in 733 of the 2,355 surveys completed through pop-up events at grocery and music stores, rec centers, high rise housing, and schools; 664 people at open houses and workshops; and input gathered in libraries by community members who dropped by to draw and doodle on the Library Dream Boards.