The Hidden Wealth of Cities - Creating, Financing, and Managing Public Spaces

Jul 19, 2026

The Hidden Wealth of Cities examines how cities can create, finance, and manage public spaces as valuable assets. It presents an asset management framework spanning planning, funding, and governance, then extends it with evidence-based approaches using data and spatial analytics. The work addresses stakeholders and processes, explores strategic unlocking of public-space value, and highlights challenges and emerging issues in urbanization, supporting decision-making with comparative analysis and case studies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages453

Reading Time19 h 2 min

Overview

Urbanization and the Need for Space

Functional Cities, Vibrant Places

Public Spaces: Liabilities or Assets?

Attributes of Successful Public Spaces: A Framework

Actors and Stakeholders

Planning Process and Data

Strategy and Approach

Financing and Funding

Management and Governance

Strategies for Unlocking the Value of Public-Space Assets

Part I Planning, Funding, and Managing Public Spaces: An Asset Management Framework

Chapter 1 The Importance of Investing in Public Spaces

Chapter 2 Defining Public Spaces

Chapter 3 An Asset Management Approach to Planning, Funding, and Managing Public Spaces

Part II Shaping the Public Realm: Data and Spatial Analytics

Chapter 4 Evidence-based Planning and Design

Chapter 5 Analyzing Spatial Patterns of Public Spaces in Cities through Remote Sensing

Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized THE HIDDEN WEALTH OF CITIES Creating, Financing, and Managing Public Spaces Jon Kher Kaw Hyunji Lee Sameh Wahba THE HIDDEN WEALTH OF CITIES THE HIDDEN WEALTH OF CITIES Creating, Financing, and Managing Public Spaces Jon Kher Kaw, Hyunji Lee, and Sameh Wahba, Editors © 2020 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; [Internet: www.worldbank.org](Internet: www.worldbank.org)[ ](Internet: www.worldbank.org)Some rights reserved 1 2 3 4 23 22 21 20 This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Rights and Permissions This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO) [http://cre](http://cre)[ativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo. Under](ativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo. Under) the Creative Commons Attribution license, you are free to copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt this work, including for commercial purposes, under the following conditions: Attribution—Please cite the work as follows: Kaw, Jon Kher, Hyunji Lee, and Sameh Wahba, editors. 2020. The Hidden Wealth of Cities: Creating, Financing, and Managing Public Spaces. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi:10. 1596/978-1-4648-1449-5. License: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO Translations—If you create a translation of this work, please add the following disclaimer along with the attribution: This translation was not created by The World Bank and should not be considered an official World Bank translation. The World Bank shall not be liable for any content or error in this translation. Adaptations—If you create an adaptation of this work, please add the following disclaimer along with the attribution: This is an adaptation of an original work by The World Bank. Views and opinions expressed in the adaptation are the sole responsibility of the author or authors of the adaptation and are not endorsed by The World Bank. Third-party content—The World Bank does not necessarily own each component of the content contained within the work. The World Bank therefore does not warrant that the use of any third-party-owned individual component or part contained in the work will not infringe on the rights of those third parties. The risk of claims resulting from such infringement rests solely with you. If you wish to reuse a component of the work, it is your responsibility to determine whether permission is needed for that reuse and to obtain permission from the copyright owner. Examples of components can include, but are not limited to, tables, figures, or images. All queries on rights and licenses should be addressed to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; [e-mail: pubrights@worldbank.org](e-mail: pubrights@worldbank.org). ISBN (paper): 978-1-4648-1449-5 ISBN (electronic): 978-1-4648-1493-8 DOI: 10. 1596/978-1-4648-1449-5 Cover illustration: Ecosistema Urbano Cover design: Jon Kher Kaw Library of Congress Control Number: 2019953865 CONTENTS Foreword xv Acknowledgments xvii About the Editors xxi

FAQs

这本书的核心研究对象是什么？

围绕“城市公共空间”的创建、融资与管理展开，强调公共空间作为可被识别并释放价值的资产。

书中提出了怎样的管理框架用于公共空间？

使用资产管理视角，将公共空间纳入规划、资金筹措与管理治理的统筹框架之中，并讨论公共部门与私人拥有公共空间（POPS）的应用。

书中如何用数据和空间分析提升公共空间决策？

通过循证规划与设计、公共空间作为城市网络的测量创新，以及基于遥感等方法分析空间格局，并结合案例研究与比较分析提炼要点。

Jul 19, 2026

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