An innovative planning project engages Baltimore's youth in developing concepts for making the city's Inner Harbor an enjoyable place for tourists, shoppers, and teens.
"Baltimore teens Rickya'h Brooks and Marquise Robinson never really feel welcome at the Inner Harbor," writes Yvonne Wenger. "They say police cast a judgmental eye on all kids who go there, especially African-Americans. And they're frustrated that the waterfront mall provides little entertainment for young people and restricts their access to shopping."
But a citywide planning effort led by a recent college grad seeks to create a 'safe and inclusive' Inner Harbor by involving youths in developing proposals for the popular tourist destination.
"The effort was spearheaded by Celia Neustadt, a 23-year-old Charles Village native and recent Pomona College graduate who secured grants and an eventual collaboration with the Waterfront Partnership," notes Wenger.
"Public spaces have the ability to bring together people from different segments of society," Neustadt said. "The young people want the Inner Harbor to be a safe and inclusive public space that local Baltimoreans, tourists and business people feel comfortable with."
FULL STORY: Youths offer ideas for a 'safe and inclusive' Inner Harbor

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

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?
TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events
Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan
The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)