Tag: Urbanism


What makes great cities succeed?

We attended the New York Times’ Cities for Tomorrow conference last week to find out. I mean, we have an idea or two around this topic (hint: open, urban green spaces), but we were excited to hear perspectives from expert leaders and innovators from around the country.  In short? Here’s what we took away: successful cities respect urban culture. We’re…

Riots, Respite and Renewal in West Baltimore

From the outside, it could be easy to make assumptions about Sandtown-Winchester—the West Baltimore neighborhood where Freddie Gray was fatally arrested two years ago today. Vacant, dilapidated homes and boarded-up storefronts tell a candid story—a story of persistent poverty, crime, and misfortune. Yet, if you look closely, bright glimmers of promise and progress dot the…

Open Voices News Roundup: December 16

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back each week for new roundups and items. ‘Wild Urbanism’ in the Middle of Putin’s Moscow “Just beyond Moscow’s Red Square, past the iconic domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral and the walls of the Kremlin,…

Mayors for Parks Coalition: Protecting Public Spaces

From Denver, CO to Fort Worth, TX, a new bipartisan coalition is on the rise to help support and protect public parks, trails and green spaces in urban areas. The Mayors for Parks coalition, a project from the City Parks Alliance, is aiming to remind Congress and the White House how critical parks are to…

Recommended Reading: First National Study of Urban parks and Physical Activity

How does your proximity and use of local parks contribute to your health? City Parks Alliance and the RAND Corporation will be investigating that question over the next four years in hopes of establishing a set of best practices when it comes to managing urban parks and encouraging physical activity. The study will include 200…

Guest Post: Join the Fall Celebration of Trees and Green Communities

This is a guest post from Leland Milstein, Program Director at Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees) Every October, community groups, city residents, local government, and volunteers across the country unite for greener communities during Alliance for Community Trees’ National NeighborWoods® Month.Together, they’ll plant trees, green up neighborhood parks, restore natural areas, eliminate invasives, and educate youth about…

Recommended Reading: Taking Your Brain for a Walk in the Park

A recent study conducted on a group of students as they walked through different urban settings in Edinburgh, Scotland, has provided quantifiable evidence that the brain operates in a more meditative state when surrounded by nature. We’ve had philosophers try to tell us that nature is calming and peaceful, but with the use of mobile…

Open Voices News Roundup: September 16

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back each week for new roundups and items. More Green, Less Diabetes Finds Australian Study “Being out in nature has been shown to improve creativity and cognitive function, as well as increase the likelihood of…

Upcoming Event: PARK(ing) Day at a Meter Near You

When you’ve successfully searched through your car, purse, and pockets for all remaining change to feed a parking meter, that small plot of land is officially yours for the time you have paid for. On PARK(ing) Day, Friday, September 20, you are encouraged to think outside the parking spot and not just use it for…

Recommended Reading: The Benefits of Urban Beekeeping

The increasing movement of people to urban city centers is also bringing other demographic shifts. This includes the business of beekeeping, which is growing in popularity on rooftop gardens in urban areas. The rise of city-dwelling bees is also producing a symbiotic relationship with their human neighbors. Bees are essential for pollination in urban environments,…

"Thank you for this tool I can share with my 7-year-old daughter, for this labyrinth makes meditation easy for the young to understand."

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