Recently my own quality of life has dipped somewhat as I rush to finish a report by that name, about the beach near which I live. It has been an interesting and useful experience to study the beach as a public space, in terms of the diversity of uses and users it attracts and various factors that contribute to its popularity or require improvements. I hope the study will prove useful in contributing to public discussion about the essential qualities of public space and what people wish for from them. One thing is clear: as our cities grow ever more dominated by cars, and as people have less and less time for each other, the importance of public spaces continues to grow. We need opportunities to exercise, socialize, relax, and have fun; we need to rub shoulders with our neighbours. Public spaces are vital to our cities and to our quality of life. Good research on the topic should help policymakers and others ensure that the public spaces we create can serve those functions well.