In many Eastern European cities large housing estates {LHEs) comprise a significant part of the housing stock, thus support of the social infrastructure {SI) there is crucial. SI within close proximity of homes facilitates greater access for local people, it engenders a sense of place and ensures social inclusion. Places, such as green courtyards, parks, and playgrounds play an important role in making a good city. Large open green spaces are the characteristic features of majority of LHEs, often comprising 40-45 % of the entire open space. Still, limited financial and human resources, conflicting interests of various inhabitant groups, land ownership issues are often a barrier to provision of the SI. In recent years there has been a growing interest from local people to engage in improvement of the public open space in LHEs and often those activities contribute to provision of new or improvement of existing SI. This research provides and overview of the role of community-led initiatives in the provision of social infrastructure in selected LHE in Riga. Results illustrate what kind of community support instruments exist and in which way community engagement contributes to social infrastructure and supports creation of a more qualitative and liveable urban environment.