Environment

Map showing Mission Boulevard Linear Park in Hayward, California and bubbles highlighting types of trees along park area.

Parks Departments Try to Build New Green Spaces on Shrinking Budgets

Even as the role of parks and urban green space in public and ecological health becomes more apparent, city budgets are hard-pressed to meet the costs of park construction and maintenance.

October 17, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Row of offshore wind turbines in large water body against sunrise or sunset sky.

Offshore Wind Growing Fast in California

The rush to secure coastal leases for wind energy production is causing some critics to call for stronger scrutiny from regulatory agencies.

October 16, 2023 - CALmatters

Palm trees on Santa Barbara beach against the red glow of a wildfire

Urban Design for Addressing Climate Resilience

Cities around the world are finding ways to protect their residents and infrastructure from the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters.

October 13, 2023 - Architecture Daily

110-10 Interchange

L.A. Times: California Must Shift Transportation Spending Priorities

Despite its ambitious emissions reduction goals, California continues to spend a majority of transportation funds on car-centric infrastructure.

October 12, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Sidewalk bus stop with bench and no shade in Los Angeles, California

Mitigating the Impact of UV Radiation

A new project aims to understand the unseen impact of ultraviolet radiation beyond extreme heat and mitigate its effects on people.

October 12, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

View of dark night sky with visible Milky Way over dark forest.

The Importance of Dark Skies

Why light pollution harms humans and the environment.

October 11, 2023 - The Daily Yonder

Wooden boardwalk through yellowed grass field with tall granite cliffs and waterfall in background in Yosemite National Park, California.

New Law Makes California's 30x30 Goal Official

Governor Newsom just signed SB 337, codifying the state's goal to conserve at least 30 percent of California's lands and coastal waters by the year 2030.

October 10, 2023 - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

Blue rain barrel full of water in a green garden with pink flowers in foreground.

Flood Resilience Through Green Infrastructure

Cities like New York and Los Angeles are moving to build green infrastructure as the need for spongier urban spaces becomes more apparent.

October 10, 2023 - Wired

Riverfront park in Philadelphia with white gazebo and skyscrapers in background.

Identifying Park Inequities Through Data Science

Researchers used a machine learning algorithm to analyze over 200 parks in Philadelphia, revealing insights about differences in access to quality parks.

October 10, 2023 - Phys.org

Rainbow over red rocks and river in Utah's Labyrinth Canyon.

BLM Releases New Plan for Moab Area

The plan limits motorized recreation to protect natural and cultural resources.

October 6, 2023 - High Country News

Rendering of Harwood Park in Dallas, Texas.

Downtown Dallas Gets A New Park

What was once parking lots and vacant buildings have been transformed into the four-acre Harwood Park.

October 5, 2023 - The Dallas Express

View of dirt trail between shrubs with downtown Los Angeles skyline in background.

Advancing Park Equity Through Needs Assessments

City Parks Alliance, in partnership with Prevention Institute, recently hosted a webinar about park equity and collaboration, focusing on the Los Angeles Countywide Parks Needs Assessment.

October 4, 2023 - City Parks Alliance

Aerial view of Broadway Street of Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg is a town in and the county seat of Granite County, Montana, United States.

New Book Sheds Light on Rural Governance

Learn more about a new book that provides some overdue attention to public governance and administration in small towns and rural communities.

October 4, 2023 - Routledge

Two sanitation workers wearing yellow and green vests workin in trash dump in developing country.

How the Informal Economy Can Build Resilience

Building sustainable, equitable cities of the future, must take into account the important and often overlooked tasks performed by informal workers.

October 4, 2023 - International Institute for Environment and Development

Aerial view of residential buildings in Koreatown, Los Angeles with downtown skyline in background

Advancing Shade Equity in LA’s Koreatown

Koreatown is one of Los Angeles's densest and most park-poor communities. A privately funded tree planting initiative will bring some much needed greenery and shade to the area.

October 3, 2023 - LAist

Cars passing through flooded street after Hurricane Sandy in New York City.

Federal Government Announces National Climate Resilience Framework

The document is designed to guide federal investment into community-driven solutions tailored to local conditions and needs.

October 3, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

View of wooded mountains with sunset in background in the Smoky Mountains.

Diverse Perspectives of America Outdoors

Best-selling writer, podcaster and comedian Baratunde Thurston travels the country to better understand and explain people's complex relationship with the outdoors in a series on PBS.

October 3, 2023 - PBS

Traffic on the 405 interstate freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California

Report: Bike Lanes Can't Make up for New Roads

If California wants to meet its climate goals, the state must stop funding its myriad road construction and expansion projects.

September 29, 2023 - Streetsblog California

Aerial view of coastal development and bright blue ocean in Kaua'i, Hawai'i.

Kaua’i County Uses Long-Range Models to Mandate Resiliency Standards

The county requires builders to assess potential flood risks using models that account for sea level rise projected as far out as 2100.

September 28, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Mature trees shading an urban sidewalk.

The Drawback to ‘Cool Pavement’

New research suggests that cooling pavement treatments can actually make pedestrians standing on it feel hotter.

September 28, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.