Public spaces are urban environments that local residents can use at any time. Public spaces include such districts and parts of the city in which the main part of people's lives is concentrated: squares, recreational areas, squares, parks, sports grounds, streets, boulevards and coastal areas. The article examines the role of landscape architecture in the process of forming public spaces, characterizes the features and basic principles of designing public areas: interaction with the environment, structuring, optimization, continuity and harmonization. As a result of the work on the article, the rich theoretical and practical experience of domestic urban planning is analyzed and summarized. On the example of several cities, the experience of reconstruction and design of public spaces is analyzed, priority directions in the development of projects for the improvement of the territory are identified. This problem is relevant in modern landscape architecture, since now in many cities there is a need to create and equip recreational zones in the urban environment. In the near future, an innovative and strategic approach will be developed in the design of public spaces in Russian cities, combining art, science and technology in landscape design. The design principles listed in the article are reflected in the master plans of most cities in Russia, due to which the individual and unique appearance of each city is formed.