The 1986 winner of the American Society of Landscape Architects book award, this outstanding handbook describes the emergence of community projects out of the decay of inner cities and the failure of traditional parks to satisfy community needs. Community Open Spaces offers much-needed guidance to residents, designers, and government officials who want to create and preserve functional and enjoyable open spaces.

It contains case studies of ten diverse projects ranging from community vegetable gardens to multiple-use community parks. Included are well-known New York City community open space projects such as the South Bronx's Barretto Street Park and the El Sol Brillante Garden in Manhattan's Lower East Side.