Considering Mindfulness as an Urban Planner's Tool

A recent blog post in Substack considers the appropriation of mindfulness to urban observation and, implicitly, urban planning today.

1 minute read

February 26, 2024, 6:00 AM PST

By Charles R. Wolfe @crwolfelaw


Paved walkways with wood benches in green city park with large trees.

soleg / Adobe Stock

French Street Life--Chuck Wolfe
The Mindful Eye, Streetlife in Bedous, France. Charles R. Wolfe Photo.

Writing in his Substack blog, Chuck Wolfe considers borrowing from the language of self-help — focused on mindfulness and purpose — and makes comparative references to the work of  Jane Jacobs and the “decisive moment” of legacy street photographers:

Along the way, I’ve discovered that “urban mindfulness” is a real thing and a promising construct for engaging with and understanding urban environments. After all, observation, and appreciation of everyday city life, and associated active participation, have ready parallels to the ancient practice of mindfulness meditation.

After noting others who have explored the topic, he notes that using the concept of urban mindfulness could:

  1. Encourage a notable shift in how we perceive and interact with our urban environments. 

  2. Foster an awareness and appreciation for the intricacies of city life, allowing individuals to enhance their well-being and contribute to the collective vitality and resilience of urban communities. 

Friday, February 23, 2024 in Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of residential street in Los Angeles with palm trees and hazy city in distance.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience

Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

April 27 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Entrance sign for San Jose-Santa Clara Regional wastewater treatment facility.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action

As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

April 27 - * A Placemaking Journal

Rendering of Penrose Roundabout in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts

Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

April 27 - WHYY