The Living Roadways Community Visioning Program has enabled over 100 small towns in Iowa to improve themselves visually through small urban design improvements that can make a big difference.
"It may not be as glamorous as the huge, new community attractions efforts popping up around Iowa, but there is a program that's been working for years to help change the look of more than 100 small towns across the state.
Under Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program, small towns get help beautifying their city. Help that can include things like adding splashy new entrance signs, tiny roadside parks that dot main drags, recreational trails and prairie and tree plantings along main roadways.
'It has had a big impact on recreational opportunities, and safety, and pride of place,' said Julia Badenhope, an Iowa State University landscape and architecture professor who came up with the program about a decade ago."
FULL STORY: Beautification program helps towns in Iowa

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

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.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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