Landscape Architecture

Green lawn and walkway in downtonw Houston park with skyline in background.

Opinion: How to Fund Better Houston Parks

Houston’s iconic signature parks mask a major underinvestment in green spaces for most of the city’s neighborhoods, according to a new report.

October 18, 2023 - Houston Chronicle

Rendering of Harwood Park in Dallas, Texas.

Downtown Dallas Gets A New Park

What was once parking lots and vacant buildings have been transformed into the four-acre Harwood Park.

October 5, 2023 - The Dallas Express

People lounging on grass in Alamo Square park in San Francisco overlooking painted ladies Victorian houses and city skyline

Drinking Water More Precious Than Grass in California

Ornamental grass—the kinds of grass that line medians and roadsides but never serves for recreation—is a vanishing amenity in a drought-stricken West.

September 14, 2023 - Los Angele Times

The Silver Lake Reservoir and surrounding neighborhoods in Los Angeles, as seen from high above

First Look: Silver Lake Reservoir Master Plan Adopted in L.A.

The Los Angeles City Council approved environmental review documents for the long-awaited Silver Lake Reservoir Master Plan, clearing the way to remake a defunct reservoir into active green and park space.

September 8, 2023 - Urbanize Los Angeles

Girl swinging on rope swing overlooking Los Angeles

Using GIS to Advance Park Equity and Prioritize Restoration of Degraded Lands

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation uses GIS technology to identify priority areas for land conservation and restoration as part of its 30x30 plan to fight climate change and protect biodiversity.

September 3, 2023 - Esri Blog

Los Angeles Sunset

The Importance of Accessible Trails

Not all trails are accessible to those with limited mobility. This article highlights eight trails and nature walks in Southern California that can be enjoyed by just about anyone.

September 1, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Greece

New Park Space for an Old City

After 3,400 years, Athens will soon get its first large urban park. When completed in 2030, Ellinikon Metropolitan Park will be 600 acres (243 ha), about three-fourths the size of New York City’s Central Park, an enormous addition of green space.

August 31, 2023 - ULI Urban Land Magazine

A hardscaped park with creative architectural featues is shown with the high-rises of Downtown Los Angeles in the background.

Pershing Square, Downtown L.A.’s ‘Forgotten Park,’ Begins Long Awaited Revamp

A makeover that began in 2015 is finally underway in 2023, but the process of reconstructing Pershing Square is expected to proceed incrementally.

August 30, 2023 - Urbanize Los Angeles

The tops of umbrellas for outdoor dining spaces are visible with large buildings in the background on a sunny day in the city of San Diego.

California Regulators Require Parking Replacement for Outdoor Dining Spaces

The city of San Diego’s Spaces as Places outdoor dining program includes a critical parking requirement mandated by the California Coastal Commission.

August 28, 2023 - La Jolla Light

Map of Panther Island flood control project

Report: Fort Worth’s Panther Island Should Emphasize Mixed Use, Walkability

Originally planned as a primarily residential development, the riverfront development could shift to a focus on entertainment, commerce, and outdoor recreation.

August 10, 2023 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

What Is Green Infrastructure?

Green infrastructure harnesses nature to the benefit of the built environment as well as human and animal life.

July 25, 2023 - James Brasuell

View of docks on lake surrounded by green trees and lawns with one white house at right

A Primer on Suburban Urbanism

How one master-planned development used lower-density urbanism principles to build a community focused on affordability, sustainability, and conservation.

July 6, 2023 - Common Edge

Woman in leggings and long-sleeved jacket walks in public park among fall foliage

Parks and Recreation as a Health Solution

New research by the Trust for Public Land explores connections between urban parks and health, building on prior research and offering insights such as the growing importance of partnerships with health organizations.

July 4, 2023 - Governing

Fenced off vacant lot in Los Angeles

Improving Communities With Pocket Parks

Construction begins for a new pocket park in Westmont, an underserved unincorporated community in Los Angeles County.

June 28, 2023 - Urbanize LA

Small white one-story building with Maggie Hathaway Golf Course sign with American flag on flagpole and green lawn

Expanding Access to Golf in South Los Angeles

L.A. County’s Maggie Hathaway Golf Course getting up to $15 Million from U.S. Open Community Legacy Project to expand access to the sport in South L.A.

June 8, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Benches along lit paved bike trail adjacent to freeway overpass in Albany, New York

Albany Freeway Ramp Reimagined as Park, Trail

An underused freeway exit ramp is now an inviting linear park that connects the city to the Hudson River.

May 31, 2023 - Public Square

Wheelchair ramp at outdoor train station

ADA Compliance Slowly Makes Headway

Decades of advocacy are paying off, but it often takes legal action to force cities to make accessibility improvements mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act over thirty years ago.

May 4, 2023 - Diana Ionescu

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

The public market at Warwick JUnction in Durban, South Africa is visible with the city ‘s high-rise buildings in the background.

6 International Models of Urban Revitalization

The New York Times recently published an article exploring six cities from around the world reinventing themselves for the 21st century: Paris, Sydney, Medellin, Lisbon, Singapore, and Durban.

April 3, 2023 - The New York Times

Aerial view of green trees over residential neighborhood with Austin, Texas skyline in the background

Street Trees as Climate Resilience

An Austin-based urban designer explains how protecting and encouraging the planting of street trees will make the city more resilient to increasingly common extreme heat events, among many other benefits.

April 3, 2023 - Diana Ionescu

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.