Who knew green infrastructure was such a divisive topic?
Patrick Thornton reports on a curious case of neighborhood controversy in Montgomery County, Maryland, where residents are rejecting the idea of new "rain gardens" to help control stormwater Wheaton Woods.
"Rain gardens are designed to help stop flooding and prevent pollution in rivers and streams by holding and purifying stormwater," explains Thornton. But some residents are calling the rain gardens "pits of death" in effort to keep the county from building any more. According to Thornton, "some neighbors are fighting the gardens, saying they're worried that people will fall into them, that they'll hurt property values, or that stormwater pollution will end up in their yards."
Thornton notes that local candidates for county executives are echoing some of those opposing talking points, but all as a prelude to a photo essay exposing the ridiculousness of those claims. One thing Thornton will grant the opposition—Montgomery County could have done a better job with outreach before building new rain gardens.
FULL STORY: The 10 best “pits of death” in the Washington region
New York Sets a Goal for 5,000 New Curbside Rain Gardens
Seventy percent of the surface of New York City is impervious. A program with a goal to build a total of 9,000 curbside rain gardens will put a dent in the hardscape.
Adapting Combined Sewer-Stormwater Systems to Climate Change
Only one coastal city has a sewer system that must handle stormwater as well as wastewater. San Francisco's efforts to adapt its combined sewer-stormwater system has put it on the vanguard of the city's climate adaptation efforts.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.
This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.
Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)