More often than not the parks and squares in downtown are nearly empty, or the people in them are primarily passing through, not lingering.

Although Tempe is ahead of some communities because it has those spaces at all, a national expert in "place making" says they are only being used to about 30 percent of their potential.

This could change soon with the guidance of a non-profit agency from New York. Tempe hired Project for Public Spaces to facilitate drawing a road map for invigorating Tempe's parks, paths and other public spaces near downtown.

A gathering at Tempe Mission Palms Hotel kicked off the nine-months-long process Wednesday night. More than 50 people attended a workshop designed to assess the community's priorities.

"You are about to embark on a project that will have immense consequences for our community," Mayor Hugh Hallman told the crowd.

Project for Public Spaces has helped turn public spaces from barren or unused concrete jungles to community gathering places filled with activity. It's a concept their experts call "place making."

They have worked with more than a thousand communities in 47 states, six Canadian provinces and in 26 countries.

The organization's president, Fred Kent, and Phil Myrick, one of the organization's vice presidents, led the program.

Wednesday, their main goal was to gather ideas on what people liked and what has potential for change that would make impact.

"It's a fishing expedition," Kent said. "We get it all together, synthesize it and find opportunities that create a sense of place by creating layers of experience."

Community members broke into groups and dissected maps of different areas and aspects of Tempe's downtown district and surrounding neighborhoods.

They identified favorite places, areas with potential, and ways to make Tempe more interconnected.

This feedback, along with other research, will help Project for Public Spaces put together a recommendation for how Tempe can increase its community-oriented feel.