Squares are places for conviviality and contact with the nature, which can contribute to forming and congregating society, representing important spaces for cultural, social and political manifestations. This article examines changes that have happened in the use of squares in central urban areas, focusing on the João Luis Ferreira Square, in Teresina, Piauí, and also evaluates the benefits and problems caused by the activities that take place on that square. It is expected that the information produced in this investigation can contribute to the process of establishing public policies for the occupation of those public spaces. The study used qualitative and quantitative data, including historical document analysis, photographs, interviews and questionnaires. Those data were used to identify the different types of users, their activities and the most popular times of use of the square. In addition, an analysis of the general situation of the square was undertaken, including the identification, description and analysis of the equipment in order to evaluate whether the environment meets some requirements of maintenance and user comfort. The refurbishment project, carried out in in 2000 to revitalize the use of the square by the population, inintroduced a bus stop, which attracted informal traders, resulting in new types of space appropriation. The results indicated that the equipment has been fairly well-maintained and that the occupation of the square is characterized mainly by activities of circulation of pedestrians, passive leisure and informal commerce.
Public space; Square; Appropriation; Teresina; Piauí
