Landscape Architecture

San Francisco McCoppin Hub

On the Value of Small Spaces in Remaking the Public Realm

San Francisco Chronicle Architecture Critic John King reviews, and celebrates, the recent string of small projects that reclaim public space in the city, calling them "modest works of true ambition."

September 11, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Key to Successful Parks: More Female Visitors

The example of Holladay Park in Portland is examined for lessons in improving public spaces through the help of private sector consultants.

September 10, 2014 - The Oregonian

Seattle's Voter-Approved Park Boom

With Seattle adding new density to go with its status as the fastest growing large city in the country, an August vote to approve and fund the Seattle Park District will have a large impact through the creation of small parks.

September 10, 2014 - The Seattle Times

The Reviews Are In: Philadelphia's New Dilworth Park

Calling it "a suit in a jeans-and-T-shirt world," Philadelphia Inquirer Architecture Critic Inga Saffron's review of the redesigned Dilworth Park in Philadelphia is more criticism than celebration.

September 9, 2014 - Philadelphia Inquirer

On the Future of Public Art

Public art can be personal, political, grandly scaled, or small in ambition. And, yes, there's a "new wave" of public art to be found in yard bombing, flash mobs, and tactical urbanism. Find out what the experts say about the future of public art.

September 9, 2014 - Artsblog

Philadelphia's Grand New Dilworth Park—How a Public-Private Partnership Delivered

Dilworth Park, on the front door of Philadelphia's City Hall, made a splashy debut yesterday, but just as impressive as the design of the park is the work of a non-profit in achieving the grand vision for the park.

September 5, 2014 - Next City

Crested Butte Colorado

Painting the Streets Blue in Crested Butte, Colorado

This isn't some new take on the bright green of bike lanes all over the country—it's not even the same shade of blue worn by the Denver Broncos. It's Bud Light painting the mountain town's Elk Avenue blue for $500,000 for its #WhateverUSA promotion.

September 3, 2014 - The Denver Post

Chicago Bikers

Watch: How the Chicago Riverwalk Project Will Transform the City

Sasaki Associates has produced a video about the under-construction Chicago Riverwalk. The lesson for all cities from the video, as well as the project: "If you can imagine it, you can built it."

September 3, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Broadway Los Angeles

Streetscape Overhaul Opens on Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles

Broadway in Los Angeles is the historic lifeline of Downtown and a key corridor in the ongoing renaissance of the neighborhood. Yesterday the city opened a brightly colored, pedestrian-friendly, vehicle-lane-reducing makeover of the street.

August 29, 2014 - Trending City

Do the 'Art Everywhere' Billboards Support Art, or Advertising?

With so many eyes trained obsessively on mobile phones, the outdoor industry is supporting a campaign to place famous art on billboards around the country. Will people notice? Should they?

August 29, 2014 - Pacific Standard

Cleveland Still Pondering Makeover for the Public Square

A plan to shut down streets around Cleveland's Public Square and make it a pedestrian friendly civic space has prompted many commenters to call for revisions to the plan, especially with regard to the square's heavy bus transit capacity.

August 29, 2014 - The Plain Dealer

Anchorage Alaska

Infographic Compares How Cities Prioritize Urban Parks

The latest installment of the GOOD Cities Project has produced an infographic that provides a look at the "ever-vital urban park" by comparing the park efforts of cities around the country.

August 27, 2014 - GOOD Magazine

Design Process for Seattle's Planned Waterfront Park—Now Reaching Out to Native Americans

After initial designs were critiqued as inauthentic to the Seattle experience, the park's designers are reaching out to the region's Native American population for advice on how to improve the plans for a new waterfront park.

August 26, 2014 - The Seattle Times

Overpass

MassDOT Looks to Repurpose Freeway Underpasses

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is seeking ideas for how to create active uses among the often-blighted underbelly of freeway underpasses and other elevated structures.

August 26, 2014 - The Boston Globe

Closing Gaps in the Florida Greenways and Trails System

The recent purchase of land to close gaps in the Florida Greenways and Trails System resulted from partnerships between state, regional and county governments to protect land for recreation and conservation in the Sunshine State.

August 21, 2014 - The Palm Beach Post

Echo Park

Olmsted Alive! 'Emerald Necklace' Plan Proposed for Los Angeles

Inspired by a park system proposal by Frederick Law Olmsted from 1930 to build a network of parks and open space throughout the city, a coalition of advocates is reviving the idea of connecting people and parks throughout Los Angeles.

August 19, 2014 - Next City

Lean Urbanism: A Century-Old Practice?

A short case study in Lean Urbanism, compliments of Victoria Beach, Manitoba.

August 19, 2014 - PlaceShakers

Los Angeles Skyline with houses

Some Like it Hot: Adapting Los Angeles to Climate Change

Closing out the "Just Add Water" lecture series, four panelists came together to discuss climate change, cultural shifts for sustainability, and adapting Los Angeles's urban fabric for greater climate resiliency in the future.

August 14, 2014 - Maayan Dembo

Bus Stop

Baltimore Bus Stop Design Leaves No Doubt

Part street furniture, part advertisement for public transit, part public art—the designers of a new bus stop installation in Baltimore call it "an obvious bus stop."

August 11, 2014 - Slate

Study Shows Public Health Benefits of Recreational Facilities on Urban Rivers

A new study finds that the cost of building urban river parkways and other recreational facilities is more than offset by the savings in public health costs, such as obesity.

August 7, 2014 - LA.Streetsblog

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.