Safety is a fundamental, if often unspoken, premise of successful placemaking, informing both the design and programming of public spaces. More and more placemaking efforts are focused on the creation or revitalization of public spaces, often in downtown areas involving heavy foot and vehicle traffic. For these projects to be successful, it is critical that the design, technology and security oversight be effective but also recessive, requiring imagination and intelligence to be applied to the design process from the start. Managers of cultural districts, Business Improvement Districts, and other public spaces are seeking innovative solutions for securing their public spaces in ways that retain the beauty and attraction of these areas.