More than 8 million people are crowded together to live in New York City. What makes it possible? In part, it's the city's great public spaces -- from tiny pocket parks to long waterfront promenades -- where people can stroll and play. Amanda Burden helped plan some of the city's newest public spaces, drawing on her experience as, surprisingly, an animal behaviorist. She shares the unexpected challenges of planning parks people love -- and why it's important. TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more. Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at http://www.ted.com/translate Follow TED news on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tednews Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED Subscribe to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector

Comments

1. Wow
2. any politics aside, a government employee that takes that much time to walk around and learn and listen is a good government employee
   
   bravo
3. No more malls please! The garden is much better.
4. i really like ur words and thoughts regarding planning.
   Planning really belongs to PEOPLE but also to create balance nature and its mining.
5. Boston needs this hero!
6. she's gorgeous!
7. Amanda, you hit the nail on the head. Planning is about people!!!!
8. Brilliant visions put into action. Such an amazing, passionate woman.
9. Nice speech ms. Amanda. :)
10. give her some water..
11. Look up "William Whyte social life of small urban spaces". She is continuing His work.
12. wow great minds
13. "details really do make a difference, but design is not just how something looks, its how you feel in this space."
14. Awesome!
15. wow. what a great presentation.
16. Can someone please tell me what the names of the parks are? 
    All that were mentioned 
    Im really thankful!
17. This makes me want to plan to trip to NY and visit these parks - and in frankness I've never really wanted to visit NY before.
18. Why is this in a playlist callers 'batman eats a hotdog'
19. Thanks Amanda!
20. Amazing speech!