Community / Economic Development

Glass-topped conservatory building with bronze statue in foreground at Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden

Community Engagement at L.A. County Parks

The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting over 60 public meetings in September to connect with the public and gather input to inform decision-making and resource allocation.

September 6, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation

A view from among the high0rises in Downtown Seattle.

Capturing the Post-Pandemic City: The Power of 'Visual Prosecution'

Have you ever tried immersive photography to show how urban landscapes, with their ever-evolving stories, are changing post-pandemic? A three-time author of books about understanding the innate identities of urban places updates his perspective.

September 5, 2023 - Charles R. Wolfe

Girl swinging on rope swing overlooking Los Angeles

Using GIS to Advance Park Equity and Prioritize Restoration of Degraded Lands

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation uses GIS technology to identify priority areas for land conservation and restoration as part of its 30x30 plan to fight climate change and protect biodiversity.

September 3, 2023 - Esri Blog

An oil well in a mountainous and remote part of Utah.

Utah Oil Shale Extraction Dealt Major Setback

The Surface Transportation Board's approval in 2021 of a proposed 85-mile Uinta Basin Railway in Utah that would have enabled increased extraction of the world's largest source of oil shale was partially vacated by a federal appeals court last month.

September 3, 2023 - Progressive Railroading

A group of friends laughs and celebrates with beers on a rooftop with Downtown Los Angeles in the background.

Friday Fun: Best Cities for Rooftop Dining and Drinking

Just in time for summer’s last hurrah, a list of cities with a reputation for rooftop entertainment.

September 1, 2023 - RoofGnome

Greece

New Park Space for an Old City

After 3,400 years, Athens will soon get its first large urban park. When completed in 2030, Ellinikon Metropolitan Park will be 600 acres (243 ha), about three-fourths the size of New York City’s Central Park, an enormous addition of green space.

August 31, 2023 - ULI Urban Land Magazine

An aerial view of the South Side of Chicago, with Lake Michigan to the left in the distance.

Historic Victory for Environmental Justice on Chicago’s South Side

The city of Chicago has agreed to take significant steps to remediate decades of discriminatory zoning and land use policies.

August 31, 2023 - The National Resources Defense Council

A picture of a corner store at night.

Exploring Urban Resurgence

In a wide ranging personal journey of interest to planners and interpreters of the built and natural landscapes, Chuck Wolfe weaves the interplay of the forces behind the everyday, providing fodder for problem solving in our cities and towns.

August 30, 2023 - Medium

The exterior of the U.S. Supreme Court, with an American flag flying above its large columns and white marble exterior.

Supreme Court’s College Admissions Ruling Could Impact Environmental Justice Efforts

If rectifying racial injustice no longer passes constitutional muster, what chance does the environmental justice movement have?

August 29, 2023 - New Jersey Monitor

Blue and green playground equipment in Los Angeles with palm tree and mountains in background

Partnering with Schools to Expand Parks Access

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is partnering with over 560 schools to provide students access to the outdoors, nature education, and recreational programming.

August 29, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation

View of empty paved schoolyard with green picnic benches and basketball hoops in Malibu, California

Expanding Schoolyard Greening in California

To protect kids from extreme heat, California just distributed another $73 million to local school districts to transform schoolyards by converting blacktops to green spaces, planting trees, and other related efforts.

August 25, 2023 - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

Photo of downtown San Francisco alley superimposed with text bubbles

New Plan Aims to Revive Downtown San Francisco

The proposal focuses on placemaking and street activation as tools for economic development.

August 24, 2023 - Fast Company

Aerial view of Tempe, Arizona with mountains in background

‘Tempe Tomorrow’ Plans for Expected Population Growth

Tempe planners are preparing a General Plan update scheduled for voter approval in March 2024.

August 24, 2023 - Daily Independent

Close-up of rows of clear plastic cups filled with cut fruit on outdoor street vendor table

D.C. Passes New Street Vending Rules

The District’s new regulations lower permit fees, reduce barriers to entry for vendors, and decriminalize vending offenses.

August 24, 2023 - Next City

View of Echo Park Lake at night with artesian fountain and illuminated swan paddle boats and Los Angeles skyline in background

Recreational Programming Helps Communities to Thrive

Los Angeles County's popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program offers multiple important benefits, as documented in a recent UCLA study.

August 23, 2023 - UCLA Newsroom

Red antique stoplight in the middle of wide intersection flanked by brick buildings in downtown rural Toledo, Iowa

Iowa Towns Embrace a ‘Shrink Smart’ Approach

Population loss doesn’t have to be a harbinger of doom. Some rural communities are taking small but impactful steps to improve quality of life for their remaining residents.

August 23, 2023 - The Gazette

View of concrete schoolyard in New York City through fence

An Urbanist Agenda for Education

An opinion article by Angie Schmitt addresses the neglect of education policy in the urbanist political platform, and proposes two specific education policy goals for urbanists to get behind.

August 23, 2023 - Angie Schmitt

View of park playground with palm trees in background

Protecting Kids from Climate Change by Greening Schools

Los Angeles Unified School District is in the process of implementing a plan to ensure that at least 30 percent of all campuses include green spaces by 2035.

August 21, 2023 - The 19th

Corner convenience store with red awning and children's rocking horse toy out front in brick building in Queens, New York City

Bring Back the Corner Store

‘Accessory commercial units’ were once common across U.S. towns and cities. Now, zoning regulations make them illegal in many places.

August 20, 2023 - Strong Towns

View of natural gas power plant with two tall smokestacks on Northern California coast

Making Natural Gas Power Plants Cleaner

Carbon capture and storage has long been associated with coal-burning power plants. Calpine Corp. hopes to apply the controversial technology to existing natural gas power plants, beginning with a pilot project to start this month in the Bay Area.

August 17, 2023 - The Sacramento Bee

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.