"Third Places – Social Infrastructure in the Capital Region"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hartford, CT, Thursday, August 14, 2025 – The Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) is pleased to announce the publication of our recent report “Third Places: Social Infrastructure in the Capitol Region, which focuses on the social and economic benefits of Third Places.
Third Places are broadly defined as a social environment that is neither your home (the first place) or your place of employment (the second place) but your “Third Place” where you enjoy the company of others. Common examples of Third Places include cafes or bars, but also places like parks, libraries or even barbershops. Third Places are significant contributors to what is increasingly referred to as “social infrastructure”. Whereas traditional infrastructure is primarily physical in nature (water and sewer pipes, roads and bridges etc.), social infrastructure is broadly defined as the background structures that allow various social connections to occur, most notably as physical spaces where people can assemble. They are a critical piece of healthy communities.
Strong, resilient communities make it easy to gather and connect with other people. As we continue to recover from the pandemic and grapple with a growing mental health crisis, the importance of Third Places as the civic and social glue of communities has never been more important.
“In-person connection has never been more important. The rise in cultural polarization, self-reported loneliness and mental health challenges, and the overall sense of exhaustion with the digital platforms that shape our lives, are all interrelated. Supporting and cultivating Third Places where it’s easy and enjoyable to gather face-to-face is an essential for strengthening the civic and economic health of our communities.” said Kyle Shiel, Principal Planner for CRCOG and co-author of the report.
“Our region is struggling with retaining young professionals. A major reason why is the perception this area lacks fun things to do. If we want young people, creatives and new talent to stay, developing Third Places with fun amenities is something we must prioritize, like places to dance just to mention one. Otherwise, our region will continue losing young professionals to places like Boston and New York.” said Jacob Knowlton, Community Development Planer and the other co-author of the report.
The report concludes with a series of recommendations municipalities can take to support Third Places, organized by the level of interest among community stakeholders and available resources. The “Getting Started” recommendations require little time or financial commitment and can be completed by individual staff or small municipal working groups; the “Taking the Next Step” recommendations are for communities willing to invest more staff and commission time, and the “All In” recommendations are for communities willing to exploring significant regulatory changes or capital investments.
“We wanted to publish a report that not only touches on broad cultural trends that are impacting us all, but also includes practical, actionable steps that municipalities and local land use commissions can do to strengthen Third Places in their communities,” said Caitlin Palmer, Director of Regional Planning and Development for CRCOG. “For example, towns can begin by assessing the ways in which their current local regulations may be creating barriers that block the development of Third Places.”
CRCOG hopes this report will spark conversations about ways communities can strengthen and support Third Places across the region and beyond. We welcome further engagement from interested parties on this important topic.
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The Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) is a voluntary Council of Governments formed to initiate and implement regional programs and initiatives to benefit our member towns and the region. CRCOG is guided by the chief elected officials of our 38 Metro Hartford municipalities, who recognize that the future of our individual members is tied to the future of our region. Our members have collaborated for over 50 years on a diverse range of projects, services, and initiatives.
CRCOG is the largest of Connecticut’s regional planning organizations, with a population of 976,248 and a land area of 1,047 square miles. The CRCOG region is well-situated between New York City and Boston, and is rich in history, cultural and educational amenities, and natural resources. CRCOG’s team of professional staff works to promote responsible land use, effective transportation systems, economic vitality, and quality of life. CRCOG is a proud advocate for its members and region and provides various shared services to facilitate governmental efficiency.
