Do walls and gates really make good neighbors?
"Gated communities and their public counterparts reflect frustration. Citizens turn to such devices because they lack confidence in the normal vehicles for ensuring the safety of persons and property. To outsiders, gated communities do not resemble welcome mats; they indeed may be a lamentable example of turning inward. But the way to make gated communities unattractive not only to well-meaning critics (and to surly ideologues) but to the typical family is not to denounce them as racially or socially exclusive. The answer is to arrest the civic decline that leads many to turn to gated communities for physical safety and emotional piece of mind."
Thanks to Richard Layman
FULL STORY: Gated Communities
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
How Complete Streets Stands to Lose in the FY26 ‘Skinny Budget’
The President’s proposed budget could cut key resources for active transportation, public transit, and road safety programs.
Dairy Queen and Rural Third Places
Dozens of Dairy Queen restaurants across Texas are closing, taking a critical community space with them.
Pittsburgh Excels at Low-Cost, Quick-Build Traffic Calming
The city’s traffic calming initiative has led to a 6 percent average reduction in speeds on corridors with recent interventions.
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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Tyler Technologies
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions