After five years of planning, a San Francisco trail now runs across the city linking neighborhoods and greenspaces.

The new San Francisco Crosstown Trail has opened, connecting the city’s many parks and open spaces into a 17-mile walking and biking route, reports Carl Nolte. "The Crosstown Trail runs from the Candlestick Point State Recreation Area near the old ballpark site diagonally across the city to Lands End on the edge of the Pacific Ocean."
Nolte traveled along the trail recently and describes the diversity of terrains, including urban woods, trails, parks, and city streets. He says the Visitacion Valley Greenway part of the trail was a labor of love that came about over 20 years through grants and the work of volunteers. "[The volunteers] talked about how a series of overgrown vacant lots full of weeds, trash and stray dogs was transformed into an urban garden through the heart of a neighborhood."
Although the Crosstown Trail is officially open, not all the paths are marked, says Nolte. Visitors can navigate the route using downloadable maps.
FULL STORY: SF’s new 17-mile trail offers look at rarely seen areas

In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.

Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.

Transforming Downtowns Into Functional Neighborhoods
Rather than ‘monofunctional’ business districts or urban playgrounds, American downtown districts could become multipurpose neighborhoods.

Utah DOT Plans to Expand Interstate Despite Local Concerns
With more evidence pointing to the futility of expanding freeways, the state could take a creative approach to improving travel times and providing additional transportation options.

An Equity Approach to Lead Pipe Replacement
A former Chicago health commissioner calls on governments to prioritize the most marginalized and historically disinvested communities when distributing funding to replace lead pipes, which have taken the highest toll on the health of disadvantaged c

Supreme Court Limits Clean Water Act’s Power
A recent ruling ‘dramatically’ restricts the law’s reach when it comes to protecting wetlands.
City of Bellevue
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Code Studio
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Knox County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
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.