Environment

Lone hiker on gravel trail at Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Los Angeles County

Ensuring Equitable Park Access in Los Angeles County

Learn more about the Park Equity Alliance and how it is working to ensure equitable access to parks and recreation in L.A. County.

May 10, 2023 - Park Equity Alliance

Aerial view of homes on beach in Maui, Hawaii

Addressing Sea Level Rise and Coastal Threats in Maui

Learn how Maui County is integrating sea level rise and coastal threats into planning for and protecting its 65 beach parks.

May 9, 2023 - Parks and Recreation Magazine

View of field of blooming orange poppies in Antelope Valley, California

L.A.’s 30x30 Goals: Conservation and Restoration

Learn more about Los Angeles County's Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) which focuses on land conservation and restoration, regional recreation, and rural recreation to address climate change, protect biodiversity, and meet the needs of residents. 

May 8, 2023 - Parks & Rec Business

Cover of Los Angeles County 2022 Parks Needs Assessment Plus

The Growing Importance of Data Storytelling

Data storytelling refers to the ability to effectively communicate insights from data using narratives and visualizations. When done right, it can be used to put data insights into context and inspire action from decisionmakers.

May 7, 2023 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Clse-up of "Just Say No To Over Development" yard sign on green lawn

Thinking About Right-NIMBYism

Some conservatives oppose new housing on the ground that exclusion will “save” their neighborhoods from poor people. Is there any response to these arguments?

May 5, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

Seattle skyline panorama seen from Kerry Park at sunset in golden evening light with Mount Rainier in the background, Washington State, United States of America

Washington Cities Balance Housing Development and Tree Canopy

Cities like Seattle and Bellingham are working to increase housing density while also preserving urban trees and green spaces.

May 3, 2023 - The Urbanist

Redevelopment

Anti-Displacement Measures for Brownfield Developments

A series of reports published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Smart Growth America highlights tools and policies that can help mitigate displacement pressure when recovering and developing brownfields around the United States.

May 2, 2023 - Smart Growth America

Unpaved road through Owens Lake bed with Sierra Nevada mountains in the background

California Braces for Floods After Historic Winter Storms

Emerging from a years-long drought, the state now faces significant flood risks as temperatures rise and the abundant snowpack begins to melt.

May 1, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Old wood demolition waste, from destruction or renovation of buildings in a container on a work site in a street with a house. Wooden beams to be recycled into new building materials

The Link Between Circular Building, Affordability, and Sustainability

A growing movement seeks to reduce waste in the construction industry and focus on the long-term impact of building materials.

May 1, 2023 - Wired

View of Los Angeles skyline against a bright orange sky with a palm tree at left

Los Angeles County Releases Updated Climate Action Plan

The revised plan reflects the county's commitment to fighting climate change and identifies strategies, measures, and actions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from community activities and some municipal operations.

April 27, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning

Flooded street and two downed trees with downtown Houston buildings in background

Houston’s ‘Ike Dike’ Won’t Adequately Protect the City

The largest project ever undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers may not be enough to protect Houston-area communities from flooding during the most severe hurricanes, according to the Corps’ own analysis.

April 27, 2023 - Grist

View from below of orange tethered hot-air balloon floating in blue sky

New Vision for Southern California’s Great Park

The newly unveiled comprehensive plan includes a botanical garden, museums, and a 22-acre lake system.

April 24, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

GIS map of Yosemite National Park

The Growing Importance of Location Intelligence

Location intelligence is transforming decision-making, with an increasing number and type of organizations modernizing operations with a geographic approach to problem-solving, planning, and prediction.

April 24, 2023 - ESRI, Inc.

Aerial view of Eel River running through California forest

The Nation’s Most Endangered Rivers

An annual list from American Rivers highlights the waterways most at risk from climate change, poor water management, pollution, and other dangers.

April 19, 2023 - American Rivers

Natural gas stove with blue flame

Berkeley’s First-in-Nation Natural Gas Ban Overthrown by Court Ruling

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Berkeley does not have the power to mandate electric hookups in new development because a federal rule preempts the local regulation.

April 18, 2023 - Bloomberg Law

Front yard landscaped with native plants and flowers

Opinion: The Time for ‘Yard Reform’ is Now

Replacing lawns with native plants and grasses saves water and improves biodiversity, but some cities make the practice illegal.

April 18, 2023 - Next City

Cyclists of All Ages Enjoy a Sunday Morning Ride on the Neuse River Trail.

The East Coast Greenway Is Stitching Together a 3,000-Mile Trail Network

The ever-evolving greenway connects biking and walking trails from Maine to Florida.

April 18, 2023 - Reasons to Be Cheerful

White gazebo among green plants and trees at botanical garden

Garden Transforms Trash Into Works of Art

South Coast Botanic Garden highlights the importance of sustainability through its latest exhibit which consists of 16 giant creatures made from beach debris that washed ashore.

April 17, 2023 - South Coast Botanic Garden

Denver, Colorado skyline with park and lake in foreground and mountains in background

Denver Residents Lack Transit Access to Local Parks

Despite an early plan to run rail lines to the city’s mountain parks, they are not easily accessible to Denverites without cars.

April 17, 2023 - Colorado Public Radio

Electric big rig truck plugged into charging station

Can Federal Emissions Standards Hasten the Transition to EVs?

The EPA unveiled two far-reaching rules to tighten emission standards for light, medium and heavy duty vehicles that can only be met by transitioning to zero-emission vehicles. The proposal is certain to be challenged in court as an agency overreach.

April 17, 2023 - The New York Times

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.