Public Space

City Kids

Seattle Accepting Proposals for Neighborhood Recovery Fund Projects

The fund will invest $6 million in community-led projects aimed at public space activation, digital equity, and other recovery strategies.

September 3, 2021 - The Urbanist

A canal under a bridge in Buffalo is lined by chairs and tables, people walking about, looking at peddle boats on the water.

What Makes Placemaking Work

New qualitative research into three example public spaces in the United States offers best practices and obstacles to avoid in the placemaking process.

August 23, 2021 - Brookings: The Avenue

New York

How Downtown Public Space Investments Impact Equity

Efforts to revitalize declining downtowns have, in some cases, become catalysts for supporting small, minority-owned, local businesses.

August 6, 2021 - Brookings Institution

San Francisco Parklet

San Francisco Supervisors Vote to Keep Parklets, Close Them at Night

The pandemic-era outdoor seating arrangements can stay, but a last-minute amendment lets business owners close them overnight.

July 21, 2021 - San Francisco Chronicle

Waterplace Park

Providence Plans Ambitious Public Space Makeover

Take a virtual tour of the new public spaces proposed in the Providence Unified Vision Plan.

July 21, 2021 - The Architect's Newspaper

beach Parking

The Inequities of Beach Access

Over 80% of Californians live within an hour’s drive of a beach, but that does not mean that everyone has easy access to beaches.

July 15, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Al Fresco Streets

'Open Streets' Have an Accessibility Problem

The rush to utilize sidewalk space for outdoor seating and parklets has created new obstacles for people with disabilities.

July 2, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Long Beach, California aerial shot

Long Beach Gated Community Must Provide Public Access

The development never fulfilled its mandate to build a public walkway through its property. Now, the Coastal Commission wants it to open its gates.

July 1, 2021 - Long Beach Post

An empty pedestrian plaza is shown in front of Philadelphia City Hall.

'Penn Center Transit Gateway' Planned Near Philly's City Hall

Public realm and urban design improvements are planned for a "languishing" pedestrian mall located near Philadelphia's City Hall.

June 25, 2021 - WHYY

Washington Square Park, New York City

Manhattan Residents Cling to Public Space Amid NYPD Crackdowns

The city's police has begun issuing citations and implementing curfews in public parks that became oases of social activity during the pandemic.

June 16, 2021 - Gothamist

New York City Restaurant

Car-Free Streets Benefit Restaurants, Yelp Survey Shows

Restaurants in areas designated as "slow streets" during the pandemic saw a boost in consumer interest.

May 21, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Cincinnati Area

Major Waterfront Improvements Completing Construction South of Cincinnati

Developer Southbank Partners is putting the finishing touches on the second phase of the Riverfront Commons in Covington, Kentucky.

May 11, 2021 - WCPO

Seine

The Pitfalls of the 15-Minute City

The concept, touted as "hyper-local," can fail to take into account local conditions and historical inequities in American cities.

March 8, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Summer

Public Drinking in America

Regulating alcohol in the public realm.

February 22, 2021 - Diana Ionescu

Miner Street Al Fresco

Rethinking Streets During the Pandemic

A new book from the "Rethinking Streets" series identifies 25 quick redesigns cities can use to reconfigure streets for the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 18, 2021 - Rethinking Streets During COVID-19

Park(ing) Day

The Pandemic Revealed Public Space as 'Essential Infrastructure'

COVID-19 restrictions have highlighted the importance of abundant, multi-use open spaces accessible to all.

February 5, 2021 - San Francisco Chronicle

Champs-Elysees

'The World's Most Beautiful Avenue' Getting A Green Makeover

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo approved a new plan to revitalize the Champs Élysées ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

January 21, 2021 - The Guardian

Canada WInter

Serpentine Maze: Pop-Up Parks in the Pandemic

If the combined effects of winter's cold and the pandemic has you bummed, check out this community-building exercise in the frozen North.

January 20, 2021 - PlaceShakers

Los Angeles, California

Public Gardens as Places of Hope and Healing

Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles County offered the "Wishing Tree" for visitors to share their wishes and hopes for 2021. The public response was overwhelming, with over 10,000 notes hung on the tree in a matter of weeks.

January 17, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Coronavirus Pandemic

Why Playgrounds Need to Stay Open

California has reversed its decision to close playgrounds as part of the state's stay-at-home order after some legislators and parents complained and argued that children need outdoor play for their health and well-being.

December 15, 2020 - CALmatters

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.