Landscape Architecture

City of South Gate Urban Orchard Demonstration Project

An 'Urban Orchard' Next to the Los Angeles River

The city of South Gate, located on the southern stretch of the Los Angeles River, downriver of Downtown Los Angeles, recently published an initial study of the "Urban Orchard Project."

July 22, 2019 - Urbanize LA

Georgetown Canal

Does the Plan to Revitalize a D.C. Canal Too Much Resemble the High Line?

Controversy over a plan to revitalize the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal in Washington, D.C. has some questioning whether the High Line in New York City is the best model for the adaptive reuse of public space.

July 18, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Pop-Up Park

The Surprising Benefit of Pop-Up Parks to Bio-Diversity

A new study finds that interim recreational use of underutilized sections of crowded cities can benefit more than just humans.

July 8, 2019 - Next City

California Wildflowers

Where, and Why, Allergies Are Worst

Your senses (or lack thereof) aren't deceiving you. Some cities really are worse for seasonal allergies than others, and some of the reasons are entirely preventable.

July 3, 2019 - The Guardian

Americans With Disabilities Act

Study Measures 150 Miles of Informal Footpaths in Detroit, Explores Their Larger Importance

A new study by researchers at Illinois State University and the University of Michigan measured the informal footpaths—also known as "desire lines"—of Detroit.

July 2, 2019 - Landscape And Urban Planning

Detroit, Michigan

An International Design Competition Reveals New Plans for Detroit's Cultural Center

Dubbed "Detroit Square," the newly revealed designs for ten blocks around 12 cultural and educational institutions will redesign the public realm for the human scale.

June 29, 2019 - The Detroit News

SEPTA Bus Transit

Do Denser Neighborhoods Have Safer Streets?

Erick Guerra of the University of Pennsylvania writes about a recent article he co-authored in the Journal of Planning Education and Research

June 11, 2019 - JPER

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston City Hall Plaza Ready for a Makeover

Bostonians love to hate City Hall Plaza. That could change, as the city finalizes a renovation project that aims to transform the way the public sees the city's government.

June 8, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Los Angeles River

Revealed: Three Park Design Proposals for Key L.A. River Parcel

Three design proposals have been unveiled for the Taylor Yards parcel along the L.A. River.

June 5, 2019 - Urbanize LA

Bryant Park

Reimagining the Social Value of Public Spaces

While they're often treated as mere assets to be maintained or abandoned for other uses, public spaces can be an active part of cities' plans for equitable revitalization.

June 2, 2019 - Governing

Fruit Trees

Nation's Largest Public Food Forest Gets a Chance to Grow in Atlanta

A new 7-acre public food forest is part of an initiative to ensure every resident of Atlanta has access to fresh food by 2021.

May 29, 2019 - Curbed Atlanta

11th Street and Park Road

D.C. Attempts to Save Local Dog Park

Residents of Columbia Heights in Washington, D.C. have been using property owned by D.C. Metro as a dog park. The District might buy the land to ensure it stays that way.

May 26, 2019 - The Washington Post

Jefferson Memorial

2019 ParkScore Rankings Now Available

The trust for Public Land today announced the 2019 ParkScore rankings.

May 22, 2019 - The Trust for Public Land

Designing Park Space on the Former Location of a Post Office

A planning process launched after Portland bought the former location of the city's Central Post Office from the federal government has yielded a final design concept.

May 11, 2019 - The Oregonian

Los Angeles

Unequal Distribution of Shade Is Environmental Injustice

A longread, written by Sam Boch and published by Places Journal, has been creating a stir online and is highly recommended for those with an interest in intersections between social justice and urban design.

May 3, 2019 - Places Journal

Arlington Virginia

When Does a Public Space Plan Rely Too Much on Pavement?

The debate leading up to the recent approval of the Arlington County, Virginia Public Spaces Master Plan reveals the competing pressures on park planning in 2019.

May 2, 2019 - ARLnow

Broadway Bike Lane

If You Build It, They Will Ride (400% More)

A more than 400 percent increase in bike ridership following the opening of a protected bike lane on Second Avenue proves that Seattleites are more inclined to ride with safe facilities.

May 1, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Pittsburgh Public Space EVent

We Need More Words for Play

Could cities harness the power of play to build more healthy, resilient, and equitable communities, if only we had the words for it?

April 25, 2019 - Sarah Siplak

Phoenix Aerial

Big Ideas for Downtown Phoenix Park, but Little Progress

Advocates say an upgraded Hance Park could be a great success for the city, but the move forward has been slow.

April 15, 2019 - azcentral.com

Woman Walking

How to Design and Plan to Address the Root Causes of Gender Inequality

Gender equality has never played such a prominent role in the design of public and urban spaces. The world needs more than superficial, reactionary measures to address the long history of public space as the physical realm of patriarchy.

April 12, 2019 - Behavioral Scientist

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.