In 2018 and 2019, Gehl helped the City of San Jose create a "Virtual Department of Public Life" that enabled staff from across city agencies to work together to create a more vibrant, safe, attractive, and social public realm. The three Field Guides are intended as a desk reference for city staff and serve as an introduction to public life, a manual for setting goals and measuring progress, and a quick design and planning primer to guide best practices.
The San Jose Public Life Project involved leadership and staff from the Office of the City Manager; Office of Cultural Affairs; Economic Development; Environmental Services; Housing; Library; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services; Planning; and Transportation. It was made possible by the generous support of the Knight Foundation.
