Landscape Architecture

A group of wetsuit-clad swimmers gathers to talk in shallow water near the shore of the San Francisco Bay.

Proposed Pool Would Make an Olympic-Sized Play Area in the San Francisco Bay

The San Francisco Bay is usually an undesirable place to swim, except for a hearty few. A development proposal seeking assistance at the state level would add a pool to the Bay’s waters to make the idea of going for a swim more appealing.

March 24, 2023 - The Mercury News

North Carolina Outer Banks Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Working With Nature, Not Against It

The concept of ‘natural capital’ calls on policymakers to consider the value of natural infrastructure, which can often improve climate resilience without expensive construction projects.

March 22, 2023 - Scientific American

Trees

Planting More Trees to Protect and Save Lives

A new study estimates that more than a third of premature deaths from excessive heat can be prevented by planting more trees in cities.

February 20, 2023 - World Economic Forum

Central Park

Economic Benefits of New York City Parks

A new study by the Trust for Public Land identifies the benefits and fiscal impacts of public parks and open spaces in New York City.

February 13, 2023 - Esri Blog

Rendering of aerial view of Memorial Park land bridge with Houston skyline in background

Op-Ed: Houston’s Memorial Park Centers Nature, Connectivity

The Houston Chronicle editorial board calls the newly redesigned park a “transformative” project, urging state transportation officials to take note.

February 12, 2023 - Houston Chronicle

Parent and child walking, holding hands on mixed-use trail with trees

The Benefits of Walking in Urban Green Spaces

A new study by researchers in Virginia found that walking in a quiet urban setting with shade and greenery can significantly improve mood and reduce stress.

January 17, 2023 - VCU News

A rendering of a large park space and public theater.

Harley Davidson Includes Community Park in Headquarters Revamp

Milwaukee is about to get a major community space upgrade thanks to one of its most recognizable hometown brands.

January 12, 2023 - Urban Milwaukee

View of San Antonio River Walk with colorful umbrellas at tables on waterfront and with boat lights blurred by long-exposure

The Power of Urban Waterfronts

Humans' love of water makes waterways a particularly attractive urban amenity. Why did so many American cities let theirs languish?

January 9, 2023 - Governing

Bus bench with "armrests" to prevent lying down

What Is Defensive Urbanism?

If you’ve ever noticed a public bench split in half by a metal bar, or a series of seemingly ornamental boulders blocking the sidewalk under a high-rise overhang, you’ve seen what is often described as defensive urbanism or ‘hostile architecture.’

December 12, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Rock Creek Park Washington D.C.

Road in D.C.’s Rock Creek Park to Stay Car-Free

The National Park Service has decided to make permanent a road closure that went into effect in April 2020.

November 17, 2022 - National Park Service

View of Dealey Plaza with pedestrians at crosswalk and brick book depository building in background

A New Vision for Dallas’ Dealey Plaza

After decades of neglect, a team of designers reimagines the infamous plaza as a safe, vibrant, multimodal public space.

October 24, 2022 - The Dallas Morning News

Quarry House nestled among trees in Park City, Utah

Winners of the 2022 American Society of Landscape Architects

The Society’s annual awards highlight projects focused on reconnecting communities to the landscape and creating healthy community spaces.

October 4, 2022 - American Society Of Landscape Architects

Downtown Houston and Buffalo Bayou

$100 Million to Help Fund Buffalo Bayou Expansion in Houston

Originally proposed in 2019, the Buffalo Park East Master Plan, which would extend Buffalo Bayou Park to the East End and Fifth Ward neighborhoods, is suddenly in high gear.

September 27, 2022 - Buffalo Bayou Partnership

A view of Downtown Cleveland and the Cuyahoga River as pictured from a downtown high-rise building.

Cleveland Launches New Master Plan to Connect Downtown to Lake Erie

Dual, cooperating studies are underway in Cleveland to reimagine the connections between the city's downtown and lakefront.

September 27, 2022 - Cleveland.com

Pioneer Square, Seattle

Cool Planning for a Hotter Future

Global warming increases the importance of designing buildings and communities that are comfortable, efficient, and safe in hot conditions.

August 31, 2022 - Todd Litman

Close-up from ground level of green lawn with colonial house in background

The Declining Appeal of Lawns

Long held as a symbol of middle-class success and the American Dream, homogenous, monocultural lawns are quickly falling out of favor as people opt for more ecologically friendly gardens that conserve water and increase biodiversity.

August 28, 2022 - The Washington Post

Aurora, Colorado

Aurora Restricts ‘Cool Weather Turf’ For New Development

Drought is reshaping western U.S. landscapes. Las Vegas banned ornamental grass in 2021. Aurora is now the first municipality in Colorado to curb the use of some grasses in new developments.

August 14, 2022 - The Denver Gazette

Rendering of Memorial Park land bridge

ASLA Commits to Profession-Wide Climate Action

The American Society of Landscape Architects has assembled a task force to create an action plan focused on climate change and biodiversity.

August 10, 2022 - ASLA The Dirt

Stay-at-Home Orders

A ‘Public Realm Action Plan’ Charts San Francisco’s Post-Covid Comeback

A nonprofit business group released a plan to trigger the post-pandemic revitalization of Downtown San Francisco by reclaiming public space for human scale activity. But is an improved public realm sufficient to meet the challenge?

July 25, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

Rendering of inclusive Courtney's Playground

The Importance of Inclusive Playgrounds

The first fully inclusive playground in the Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County features full, accessible rubber surfacing and activities accessible to children of all abilities.

June 27, 2022 - The Antelope Valley Times

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.