Third Places: Past, Present And Potential

This paper explores the context and history in which the conception of third places came about. Next, third places of today come under scrutiny, as these spaces are diminishing rapidly, and the traditional third places that remain are undergoing a change in ambiance, making them unrecognizable. The paper goes on to exemplify the conundrum that gentrification and increased third places bring to low-income communities, which both benefit and suffer from these implementations. Finally, in order to address the lack of and change to third places, this paper suggests strengthening and preserving already existing third places, as well as partnering with communities to create affordable new ones. Overall, the paper demonstrates how crucial third places are to all communities for the social capital they promote.