Democracy Lives in Parks and Public Spaces

By Charlie McCabe

No Kings 3 at Stoneham Common

It’s been a struggle to think of meaningful topics about public space and parks in the past 18 months, given how many more important challenges our country is facing. I’ve abandoned a dozen or more partially written posts, but despite my internal conflict, I know that keeping our public parks accessible and in good shape is more important than ever—not only for our collective mental and physical health, but also because the parks are such vital gathering places.

The State House, opposite Boston Common

I’ve been amazed to see how successfully public green spaces, from small town squares to huge city parks, have been used for the last year for protests and stand-outs, with volunteers protecting the space and the people and little to no lasting damage to the parks or lawns. So I’d like to give a shoutout to the leaders of these groups—the organizers, city agencies, and nonprofit parks organizations—who are showing us all what thoughtful collaboration (and democracy) looks like. The training and coordination among thousands of volunteers representing national, regional, and local groups is truly awe-inspiring. In my mind, I keep comparing it to far simpler events in public parks I’ve managed in the past and how even a simple action like bringing in a food festival to park could cause chaos and lasting damage to the space.

Pop-up concert greeting NK3 participants coming out of the Park Street subway station, Boston.

In comparison, these protest groups have mobilized so successfully by planning months in advance. They plan for multiple types of volunteers to help out: peacekeepers, safety marshalls, de-escalators, volunteer medics; they work with local law enforcement; they host volunteer trainings; and they make contingency plans for if anything goes off the rails or if anyone gets hurt.

The Shaw Memorial, Boston Common.

This past weekend, I was honored to be able to help ensure that the third “No Kings” event was a success at both the Boston Common and on Stoneham Town Common, closer to home.  These events, like others, were “ice-breakers” (sorry, not sorry) meant to inspire and encourage further action and efforts. While some critics deride the impact or effectiveness of such gatherings, it does motivate and connect individuals to larger goals and experiences.

It’s an effective, democratic, and equitable use of public space and underscores the importance of our parks. I know how much work it is to coordinate all the volunteers and resources beforehand, and I was blown away by the sophistication of these operations. Thank you to everyone who has been using our parks so thoughtfully to try to bring attention to our country’s dangerous swerve towards autocracy.

Copyright 2026, Charlie McCabe Consulting LLC