What are POPS?
Privately Owned Public Spaces, or POPS, are areas that are privately owned but are available for everyone to enjoy. These spaces are usually made open to the public through rules about how land can be used, agreements made during development projects, and local zoning laws.
“Open to All” SIGNAGE
In 2022, the CRA partnered with the City of Cambridge to develop POPS signage with the name, “Open to All.”
“Open to All” was created to make POPS easier to find and to clarify these spaces welcome the public. Clear and consistent branding and messaging provides a visual cue that a POPS area is available for use by all. POPS locations are also encouraged to provide clear, visible, and readable signage with information about the space (such as access hours, amenities, and accessibility to persons with disabilities). The first POPS logo was officially implemented at 325 Main Street, and now can be seen in multiple locations across the district.
POPS signage guidelines were created alongside the new logo to make it easy to create effective and informative POPS signage. The Graphic Composition includes an easy-to-use style guide outlining the brand identity, typefaces, color palette, and examples of the designed elements. The guide also provides instructions for POPS signage as either a standalone sign or as an addition to an existing sign. These guidelines will ensure a standard look and identity for POPS in the Kendall Square area.
