An ecologically conscious "New Urbanist" housing development begins to mature west of Chicago.
Prairie Crossing lies at the western edge of Liberty Prairie Reserve, a 3,200-acre patchwork of farms, forests, and riparian corridors and home to 13 threatened and endangered species and natural landforms that reveal the unaltered effects of ice age glaciation on the northern Illinois landscape. Much of the reserves land is in public ownership, and the remaining private land is protected by conservation easements and voluntary development restrictions. Both Liberty Prairie Reserve and Prairie Crossing were founded in an area of rapid suburbanization to conserve and protect a natural landscape.
Thanks to Jeffrey Lofton
FULL STORY: Prairie Flower

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
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