Revitalizing America's Filthiest Harbor

Boston Harbor, once filled with sludge and trash, has become a model for the nation.

1 minute read

December 20, 2000, 11:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Boston Harbor is vastly changed. It is one of the cleanest harbors in America and a model for how to help the nation's troubled urban waterways. The water - once so dirty you could see only a foot down - has become clear enough to see the bottom in some places. Seals and porpoises are routinely seen out among the harbor islands - which are now a national park. Someone even saw a humpback whale earlier this year. "

Thanks to Chris Steins

Wednesday, December 20, 2000 in The Christian Science Monitor

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

November 11, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

A rendering of the California high speed rail Fresno station. Two escalators leading into the station are visible.

California High-Speed Rail Authority picks trainset manufacturer

The California High-Speed Rail Authority aims to start servicing passengers by 2033.

November 1, 2026 - Railway News

Nithya Raman in a yellow dress, speaking to a man in a pink shirt.

What could the future of LA transit look like under Raman?

The mayor-elect views broken sidewalks and potholes as crises that can be fixed with better governance.

15 minutes ago - LAist

A ground-level image of battery energy storage system (BESS) units arranged in rows at a clean energy facility. They are large, gray and rectangular.

States are counting on battery farms. Some towns don’t want them.

While fire safety has improved, some communities are still wary.

1 hour ago - Stateline

Construction in Dallas. An aerial shot of a wooden frame of an apartment building.

Dallas releases zoning code overhaul to officials

The drafted overhaul is over 400 pages long.

November 11 - Dallas Morning News

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.