Public Health

Close-up of blurred empty vinyl chairs with person sitting in background and wheelchair visible in hospital waiting room.

Linking Transportation Access and Public Health

Millions of Americans miss medical care and other important day-to-day appointments due to a lack of access to reliable transportation.

January 17, 2024 - U.S. News & World Report

Aerial view of oil refinery near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

EPA: Louisiana Can Approve Carbon Capture Projects

Environmental groups worry carbon sequestration could impact water supplies and pollute the same communities already impacted by oil and gas extraction.

January 14, 2024 - Fox 8

Close-up of lit burner on natural gas stove with blue flame and small yellow flame shooting up.

Berkeley Natural Gas Ban Remains Reversed

A court declined to revisit its decision to invalidate a city ban on natural gas hookups.

January 4, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Older Black woman with glasses and braids sitting on city bus, looking out window.

Book Excerpt: Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation

The challenge of adapting our communities to climate change is complex and urgent – but taking the time to recenter our collective efforts in the needs of older adults will be effective in reducing their risk and making all of us more resilient.

January 4, 2024 - Danielle Arigoni

View of green meadow with people and fall-colored trees in Central Park with Manhattan buildings in background.

Applying Trauma-Informed Design to Cities

How trauma-informed urbanism can make cities and their residents healthier and more resilient.

January 3, 2024 - Fast Company

Red, yellow, and green plastic playground equipment in small park under Claiborne Expressway overpass in New Orleans, Louisiana.

New Orleans Residents Fight Freeways With Science

A local coalition is collecting data that proves the harmful impacts of the Claiborne Expressway on the surrounding community.

December 22, 2023 - NPR

Low angel shot of three people with four dogs in enclosed grassy dog park.

Fighting the ‘Loneliness Epidemic’ in Cities

While urban design alone can’t mend the tears in our social fabric, planning decisions and thoughtful, inclusive design can offer or hinder opportunities for interaction.

December 17, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Low view of empty crosswalk at night from middle of street with blurred cars speeding by on both sides.

The Vicious Cycle at the Heart of Pedestrian Safety

When people feel unsafe, they walk less; with fewer pedestrians, walking becomes less safe.

December 17, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of title of death certificate for state of California.

Understanding Mortality Risks Among Unhoused People

How tracking housing status at time of death can help policymakers identify when people are most vulnerable.

December 11, 2023 - Maine Morning Star

Red picnic benches in lush forested area in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California.

Healing Neighborhoods Through Park Equity

Learn more about ways to improve park equity with Norma García-González, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and Catherine Nagel, the executive director of the City Parks Alliance.

December 6, 2023 - Resources Radio

Close-up of exposed pipe in trench with blurred utility workers and yellow truck in background.

EPA Calls for Eliminating Lead Water Pipes in 10 Years

The mandate doesn’t include additional funding, prompting backlash from utility companies.

December 5, 2023 - Route Fifty

People walking on paved path in green city park with trees and tall city skyscrapers in background.

Green Spaces Benefit Neighborhoods—When Residents can Reach Them

A study comparing green space and walkability scores found that, without effective access to local parks, residents of greener neighborhoods don’t reap the health benefits.

December 3, 2023 - American Heart Association News

Man with protective mask measures the moisture level on a white wall with green mold in an apartment.

In Rush to Build, Older Housing is Overlooked

Older homes provide an affordable housing lifeline, but poor conditions often lead to serious health impacts for residents.

November 29, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Makeshift shelter built by unhoused people on hillside overlooking freeway in Stockton, California.

Study: Homeless People Face Higher Mortality Risk

Unhoused adults are more than three times as likely to die in any given year as their housed counterparts, research shows.

November 27, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

Aerial view of freeway and large blue water tower with Fort Worth logo on it in Fort Worth, Texas.

Fort Worth Amends Comprehensive Plan to Reduce Industrial Zone

After residents protested the size and location of a proposed industrial growth zone, the city council voted to adopt an amended version of the plan.

November 20, 2023 - NBC Dallas

People enjoying a sunny day on a green lawn with pink lawn chairs and colorful bird mural in background in Boston, Massachusetts.

Why Social Infrastructure Matters

The pandemic highlighted the importance of parks and public spaces for maintaining both the physical and mental health of urban residents.

November 19, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Road sign with EXTREME HEAT ALERT surrounded by orange traffic cones

How Extreme Heat Impacts Heart Health

A higher number of high heat days correlates with more cardiovascular deaths, according to new research.

November 6, 2023 - Wired

Two women walking on wide walkway among large trees next to neoclassical building in Cologne, Germany.

How Urban Design Impacts Public Health

With more and more people living in cities, designing equitably healthy urban spaces becomes a key question for policymakers.

November 1, 2023 - Wired

Row of five white chairs set against a blue wall with a round white analog clock. Clinic waiting room.

The Messy Politics of Saving Lives from Drug Overdoses

Philadelphia was on the verge of approving a key harm reduction strategy to prevent fatal drug overdoses until the city council all but banned supervised injection sites, overriding a mayoral veto. A New York Times report explores the controversy.

October 26, 2023 - The New York Times

Yellow pedestrian crossing sign with black stick figures of mother and child crossing white crosswalk with blurred green trees on city street in background.

Opinion: To End Traffic Deaths, Cities Must Put Safety Over Speed

Eliminating road deaths requires an overhaul of U.S. infrastructure and regulations to prioritize the safety of people in cars, on foot, and on bikes.

October 24, 2023 - The New York Times

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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.