An experiment in Germany engages kids to build micro-cities as playgrounds. The idea is coming to downtown Philadelphia.
Kolle 37, as it's called Berlin, is "is one of Germany's most successful attempts at reforming how children play and learn by providing an interactive space for play," reports Next American City's Alex Vuocolo. A proposal in Philadelphia may see the American version of such a project take place.
"But will a concept that works in a progressive borough of Berlin also work in the complicated legal landscape of an American city, where strict safety guidelines have defined playground construction for over 30 years?" asks Vuocolo. "[Alex Gilliam, director of Public Workshop], is confident that it will, and not only out of blind faith. He said that for youth engagement and crowd-sourcing projects to avoid liabilities and result in a successful finished product, there must also be subtle top-down management."
FULL STORY: Temporary Playground to Turn Kids Into Planners

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

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

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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