Environment
‘Parks After Dark’ Helps LA County Communities Thrive
Los Angeles County's popular Parks After Dark program continues to serve communities in need and offer multiple important benefits, as documented in a recent UCLA study.
From Duck Farm to Parkland
The opening of the San Gabriel River Park expands access to green spaces for residents in the San Gabriel Valley, especially for Avocado Heights and other park-poor communities in the area.
Southern California’s Oak Trees are Under Threat
Goldspotted oak borers (GSOB) are invasive pests that are harming and killing oak trees across San Diego, Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles counties.
Innovative Park Agencies Receive National Recognition
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recently announced the recipients of this year’s awards for innovation in health and wellness, equity, conservation, and park design.
California Bill Would Make Wildlife Connectivity Part of General Plans
The ‘Room to Roam Act’ would require cities and counties to consider local habitats and the impact of development on wildlife corridors and connectivity.
Study: D.C.’s Poorest Neighborhoods Are Most Vulnerable to Stormwater
Lack of gray and green infrastructure in the city’s densest communities, particularly in historically Black Southeast D.C., has led to higher amounts of flooding in those neighborhoods.
Florida Homeowners 'Nope Out' of Beach Restoration Over Public Access
The U.S. Corps of Engineers and Redington Shores, Florida are at a standstill: The Corps won’t spend public money to restore private beaches, and homeowners are refusing to grant public access to the beaches behind their home in return for federal assistance.
Florida Home Sellers Must Disclose Flood History Under New Law
Prior to the new law, the Sunshine State was one of 18 states that did not require flood disclosure as part of the home selling process.
Celebrating World Environment Day
Commemorate the 51st World Environment Day with this curated list of Planetizen articles highlighting research and projects that promote a healthier, more sustainable world.
Cooling Costs to Hit 10-Year High This Summer
Longer, more intense heat waves are driving up cooling costs and putting low-income households at higher risk for heat-related illnesses.
The Growing Role of Federal Government in Disaster Relief
As flooding, fires, and other disasters become more destructive, an effective response requires more resources than local governments can offer.
California’s Largest Natural Lake Turns Green With … Algae
A potentially toxic algal bloom has turned Clear Lake in Northern California bright green, fed by increased runoff from human activity.
A Win for ‘Keep it in the Ground’
Coal mining in Wyoming will take a major hit as a result of a U.S. Department of Interior plan to cease future leasing of coal mines in the nation's most productive coal mining basin. The decision casts a spotlight on the presidential election.
The Changing Nature of Wilderness
U.S. public lands management is undergoing a slow but significant shift.
Phoenix Heat Deaths Rose by 1,000 Percent in 10 Years
The last decade saw a lethal combination of higher temperatures, rapid population growth, and rising eviction rates.
Combating Climate Gentrification in Vulnerable Communities
As extreme weather forces more Americans to relocate to safer areas, this climate-driven displacement impacts not just those who flee high-risk areas, but also the communities they can displace from their new homes.
Vermont Land Use Case Could Go to Supreme Court
Property owners argue that a new law protecting wildlife corridors amounts to an unconstitutional taking of property.
Planting for the Future: The Urban Trees of Tomorrow
How urban forest managers are preparing urban tree canopies for tomorrow’s climates.
San Francisco Takes on EPA in Supreme Court Case
The Court has agreed to hear an appeal challenging federal water pollution regulations.
Texas Flood Plan Shows One in Six Residents Live With Flood Risk
One-fourth of the state’s land falls within 100-year or 500-year floodplains.
Pagination
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello