Public Space

Rendering of proposed greenway design for downtown San Diego street.

San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park

The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.

April 7, 2025 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Paved path with artesian fountain at end and tall trees arching over walkway with joggers and walkers in Savannah, Georgia.

Survey: US Public Spaces Not Meeting Community Needs

A lack of funding prevents many U.S. parks and public spaces from playing a more significant role in helping residents meet daily needs.

April 6, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Group of people being led in yoga by two instructors on large public lawn.

The Panacea of Outdoor Human Movement

Humans relish in over-complicating things, but the sweetest and healthiest things in life are the simplest.

March 20, 2025 - April Economides

Times Square with Broadway billboards at night.

Nightlife and the 15-Minute City

Plans for compact, walkable cities often don’t address nighttime concerns like transportation and lighting, which can make neighborhoods more vibrant and safe around the clock.

March 19, 2025 - Cooperative City

Public space with seating and 'The Gathering Place' metal sign on gateway arch in Erwin, TN.

Report: The State of Public Spaces

A 50-year-old institution takes stock of placemaking in the public realm today.

March 13, 2025 - Project For Public Spaces

Chalkboard sign at front of a community garden with hours and information.

Community-Led Initiatives To Beautify and Reclaim Neglected Areas

Explore successful community-led initiatives that revitalize neglected urban spaces, fostering beauty and reclaiming areas for public benefit and enjoyment.

March 12, 2025 - Devin Partida

Skating rink under freeway in Bentway park in Toronto, Canada.

Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track

The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.

February 24, 2025 - The Globe and Mail

Geometric glass Seattle Public Library building.

Public Libraries May Be More Relevant Than Ever

Libraries around the country are expanding their services in an effort to become ‘third spaces’ for the community.

February 19, 2025 - Governing

Girl on phone struggling to hear standing on loud city street.

Neurodivergence and the City

Researchers are starting to understand how people with conditions like autism experience cities differently — and how to design for the neurodiverse brain.

February 17, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

Red spherical bollards lining city sidewalk.

Building Secure Yet Welcoming Public Spaces

Strategies for securing public spaces from vehicle attacks and other acts of terrorism without sacrificing accessible, vibrant urban places.

February 13, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

Green Uber Eats delivery robot waits at crosswalk in Tokyo, Japan.

Opinion: Delivery Robots Need Regulation Now

Ride-hailing and scooter companies blindsided cities. They shouldn’t let delivery robots do the same.

February 4, 2025 - Policy Options

Street in Charlestown, Indiana.

Charlestown, Indiana Announces City Square Improvement Project

Charlestown, Indiana announces a City Square Improvement Project after its Redevelopment Commission acquires a vacant 20-year-old building in the Jennings Plaza downtown.

February 3, 2025 - WDRB

Row of four public restrooms outdoors with snowy mountain in background.

Opinion: Public Restrooms Shouldn’t Be Starbucks’ Problem

The outrage over the chain’s decision to limit the use of its bathrooms should prompt more questions about why the U.S. lacks public restrooms.

January 31, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Young child riding scooter on gravel path in park.

Parks as Community Lifelines: Supporting Residents During Times of Crisis

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation demonstrates how parks serve as vital community infrastructure by adapting to crises, offering public health services, disaster relief, and essential support for residents in need.

January 30, 2025 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

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

Place Dauphine plaza in Paris, France with parked bikes and people milling around.

Lost and Found: Fighting Loneliness With Parks and Third Places

To combat the epidemic of loneliness, Susan Henderson's evocative photos of “third places” reflect on how these spaces have evolved and their importance in fostering connection.

January 16, 2025 - * A Placemaking Journal

Red brick building - Lewisville, Texas city hall.

Transforming Communities Through Parks: Lessons from Lewisville

Lewisville, Texas, demonstrates how equitable planning and community-driven efforts can transform underserved areas by enhancing park access and promoting social and recreational equity.

January 10, 2025 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Bus stop with agave mosaic in Phoenix, Arizona.

Phoenix Shade Plan Focuses on Bus Stops

The city’s updated Shade Master Plan calls for trees and built structures at bus stops to protect residents from heat.

January 9, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Mission Rock development in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Development Centers Pedestrians, Public Space

The Mission Rock project eliminates street parking, replacing it with public seating and landscaping.

January 7, 2025 - Fast Company

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.