New London, Connecticut, like many victims of the 1970s, was saddled with a harsh, ineffective public plaza at the heart of its downtown. Planners are working to return the plaza to its historic form.
"Longtime residents and visitors to New London remember the great open area known as the Parade in front of the historic railroad station. The Parade was a classic public plaza, a space for gatherings, a hub where people coming into the city by boat, train, bus or car could meet or be met.
But as was so often the case in Connecticut's cities, an unfortunate 1970s redesign of the area raised the plaza, crowded out usable space and separated the Parade from the rest of downtown.
Instead of having a public space that enhanced the area, the city was left with a smaller, less inviting and more dangerous space that detracted from the city's geographical integrity."
FULL STORY: Love the Parade

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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