Cap Parks

Aerial view of Klyde Warren deck park on freeway cap in downtown Dallas, Texas.

I Help Plan Cap Parks; Here’s What Austin Can Learn from Other Cities

How freeway capping projects can literally and metaphorically bridge urban divides.

January 24, 2025 - Dan Biederman

View of blurred traffic lights on Interstate 5 freeway heading into Portland, Oregon at night.

USDOT Denies Portland Freeway Expansion Grant

The agency declined the Oregon Department of Transportation’s request for $750 million to fund the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project.

October 29, 2024 - Roads & Bridges

Aerial view of Overlook Walk cap park over former Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle’s New Overlook Walk Offers Ample Park Space Near Pike Place Market

The elevated park and event space replaces part of the demolished Alaskan Way Viaduct, connecting the city’s famous Pike Place Market to the waterfront.

October 15, 2024 - The Urbanist

Rendering of Interstate 35 cap park over sunken freeway in Austin, Texas.

Austin’s Vision for I-35 Cap Parks Takes Final Shape

The city’s plan includes parks, entertainment pavilions, commercial space, sports fields, and other facilities over 30 acres of deck parks spanning a sunken Interstate 35.

October 4, 2024 - KUT

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo Residents Push Back on Proposed Cap Park

State and local officials say the $1 billion project will heal neighborhoods divided by the Kensington Expressway, but community members say the proposed plan will exacerbate already poor air quality in the area.

February 23, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Blurred Red Line train in Boston passing on elevated rail.

Boston Cap Park Closer to Reality

The proposed Dorchester Greenway would create a new linear park above part of the Red Line subway.

January 31, 2024 - The Architect's Newspaper

Rail Deck Park

Rail Deck Park a No-Go in Toronto

The Toronto Local Planning Appeal Tribunal chose a development project over the mayor's plan to build parkland over a downtown rail corridor.

May 16, 2021 - The Star

Freeway Cap Park

Take a Look at Midtown Atlanta's Proposed Freeway Cap Park

Inspiration for the cause of putting a 25-acre park on top of a 14-lane freeway.

April 26, 2021 - Urbanize Atlanta

Freeway park over I-5

I-5 Study Shows Benefits of Capping Urban Freeways

Putting a lid on the interstate through downtown Seattle could create new space for parks and housing, reduce pollution, and reconnect the disrupted street grid.

February 8, 2021 - The Urbanist

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Revealed: $2.2 Billion Redevelopment Plan for Philadelphia's Waterfront

The city of Philadelphia has a new, highly anticipated plan for a valuable site on the Delaware River waterfront.

September 9, 2020 - WHYY

Philadelphia

A Development Bonanza in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the real estate interests with designs on remaking the Penn's Landing site on the Delaware River in Philadelphia. But the team's vision for the waterfront reaches far beyond a single parcel.

September 1, 2020 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Waterfront

Iconic Remnants of Failed Tram on the Philly Waterfront to Be Demolished

It's the end of an era that never was.

September 20, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Seattle Stadiums

Seattle Releases RFP for Lid I-5 Study

The plan to top I-5 in Seattle with a cap park—what writer Natalie Bicknell calls "the most ambitious effort in our region"—is moving ahead with a $1.5 million feasibility study.

January 3, 2019 - The Urbanist

Klyde Warren Park

Cities Turn to Highway Cap Parks for Economic Development

Some worry that, of the many reasons cities pursue cap parks, creating quality green space is low on the list.

April 12, 2018 - Stateline

Freeway Cap Park

Bellevue, Washington Could Put a 'Lid' on its Freeway

The idea is still very preliminary, but the city of Bellevue, Washington is circulating a plan that could create a freeway cap park spanning the I-405 freeway as a component of a new bike and pedestrian path.

August 24, 2017 - The Registry

Cap Park Planned for I-579 Near Downtown Pittsburgh

The city of Pittsburgh has ambitious plans for a $27 million cap park over Interstate 579, built to reconnect the Lower Hill neighborhood with the rest of the city.

June 23, 2017 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Urban Freeway

Funding Pledge Brings Certainty to Planned Cap Park in Philadelphia

In Philadelphia, the William Penn Foundation has committed to help raise the last $10 million of the $225 million budget for a park over the I-95.

June 21, 2017 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Denver Cap Park

I-70 Expansion in Denver Still Facing Scrutiny

A planned expansion of Interstate 70 through Denver might have federal approval, but a growing coalition of local groups and state political leaders are pushing back on the idea.

May 18, 2017 - The Denver Post

Philadelphia

Philadelphia's Freeway Cap Park Almost Fully Funded, Ready to Start Planning

March was a momentous month for the Central Access Philadelphia (CAP) project. The project would build cap over I-95 at Penn's Landing, among other improvements.

April 4, 2017 - Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

Image of Chicago Lake Shore Drive Freeway

Proposal: Bury a Section of Chicago's Lake Shore Drive

In an ambitious plan dating back to the early 20th century, some Chicagoans want to build out park space over Lake Shore Drive's Oak Street S-bend. The project wouldn't be a straightforward one.

March 7, 2017 - Curbed Chicago

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.

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

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