Public Space
6 of the World's Best Public Spaces
An annual competition to recognize public spaces for their economic and social benefit has announced six finalists.
Newly Launched Gehl Institute to Study Public Spaces
Gehl Studio, the leading name in people-first design and one of the most influential forces in planning today, has philanthropic backing for a non-profit that will focus studies and work on the public sphere.
Groundbreaking for 'Plaza De Las Americas' Public Market Space in New York
New York City broke ground recently on the Plaza de Las Americas—a designed public space that will support market uses and pedestrian activity while replacing an existing roadway in the Washington Heights neighborhood.
Redefining Public Spaces for Older People
The elderly population in cities is growing, and research points to the health benefits of an active, connected lifestyle. So why are cities still so inhospitable to aging?
How Cities Criminalize Youth Activities
In an effort to build healthy, active public realms, many cities should considering some of the laws currently on the books that amount to shouting "get off my lawn."
Four Cities Making the Most of Alley Spaces
Urbanful examines four cities making the most of scare public spaces by reactivating their alleys with programming and pedestrian-friendly designs.
Parisian Traffic, Air Pollution Reduction Plan Caught on Political Snag
Parisian clean air politics turn out to be something of a class issue, even for a socialist mayor. The plans are seen as penalizing low income Parisians while benefiting elitist city dwellers who dislike traffic, overshadowing public health benefits.
Paris Expands Big Car Reduction Plans
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made a game-changing announcement in the name of clean air and walkability
A Census for City Streets
Eric Scharnhorst, project manager at Gehl Architects, argues for a wide-scale census instrument detailing city life, not just pedestrian counts and fatalities.
Women Unwelcome in French Public Spaces
Suburban Paris plays host to a disturbing trend: no comfortable public spaces for women, especially for women from immigrant and low-income groups.
Occupy Democracy in Parliament Square
A recent protest movement to reuse London’s Parliament Square as a space for political discourse has been met with oppressive policing.
Marshaling a Grab for Public Land in the Western United States
Faced with the prospect of states seizing control of federal lands to potentially sell to private owners, a resident of New Mexico argues against "the land grab out west."
'RiverFit': A Pop-Up Fitness Park in Memphis
Hoping to combat the city's dismal rankings in obesity, public and private partners launched the RiverFit pop-up fitness park along the Mississippi River in September.
'Trees in Hard Landscapes': Guide for High-Performance Urban Infrastructure
A new cross-disciplinary report cites 32 case studies to offer practical solutions for integrating trees into civic spaces and surface car parks.
Security Perimeters Conquering Public Spaces in the Nation's Capital
A recent security breach at the White House is prompting calls from the Secret Service for more security measures in the vicinity of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. According to a recent editorial, such measures would go to far in restricting access.
Court Ruling for Beach-Blocking Billionaire Redeems Public Access
Vinod Khosla, the California billionaire who made news earlier this year for blocking access to a public beach, had his day in court.
CicLAvia: Reclaiming Streets in the Car Capital of America
The second in a series profiling grassroots activism to increase biking among the diverse populations of Los Angeles County. In this installment, Planetizen spoke with Robert Gard, director of communications for CicLAvia.
'Droughtshaming' and the Death of Fun
Laura Bliss provides a summary of the controversy surrounding plans to bring the "Slide the City" event to Temple Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles.
On the Value of Small Spaces in Remaking the Public Realm
San Francisco Chronicle Architecture Critic John King reviews, and celebrates, the recent string of small projects that reclaim public space in the city, calling them "modest works of true ambition."
Key to Successful Parks: More Female Visitors
The example of Holladay Park in Portland is examined for lessons in improving public spaces through the help of private sector consultants.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
