Civic participation in urban planning, especially in designing public open spaces, has gained significant importance due to its impact on the quality of living environments, social interactions, and urban development. This shift highlights the relevance of public health, inclusiveness, and resilience as key issues intersecting with the built, natural, and social environments. Citizens play a pivotal role in promoting sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity, necessitating the sharing of experiences in citizen participation.
This book addresses a crucial need emphasized by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda, the European Green Deal, and other national and international bodies. It aims to provide evidence and discuss experiences related to inclusion, improving the built environment, and capacity building. Notably, it places a spotlight on teenagers' perspectives, often underrepresented in such discussions.

The book targets academics, practitioners, policymakers, students, and anyone interested in enhancing young people's involvement in placemaking. It seeks to inspire progressive placemaking by reframing how vulnerable community members access public spaces and their specific needs. "Territorial Capacity and Inclusion: Co-creating a Public Space with Teenagers" offers a comprehensive analysis and insights from a case study conducted in Lisbon between 2017 and 2020, addressing spatial practices and teenagers' needs, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The book delves into the research conducted in Lisbon, shedding light on placemaking activities and proposing a conceptual foundation for future research on teenager-sensitive public open spaces. Its primary aim is to spark a debate on the long-term prospects of granting teenagers a voice in community-centered urban planning—a key aspect of building inclusive cities that actively involve residents in sustainable development and social cohesion efforts.