More Nature in the City? Maybe, Via Public Art

San Francisco, Houston, and Indianapolis are featuring public art installations that mimic and highlight nature in urban areas.

1 minute read

May 16, 2009, 1:00 PM PDT

By franny.ritchie


"Ongoing in San Francisco is artist Patrick Dougherty's The Upper Crust, a series of conical forms for which the artist collected 18,000 pounds of freshly cut willow saplings, which he then wove into the branches of a bunch of sycamore trees on a plaza across from San Francisco's City Hall"

In Houston at the end of this month, locals and visitors can brave the sure-to-be sweltering heat and head to Discovery Green, a new-ish public park smack in the middle of downtown, to see Light As Air, a collection of inflatable art from artists around the country."

"Finally, Indianapolis is currently hosting a bunch of works by a South Bend-born artist, George Rickey, who spent his entire career constructing massive, stainless-steel sculptures carefully designed to move in the wind."

Photos and more information available via links.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 in Next American City

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Rendering of wildlife crossing over 101 freeway in Los Angeles County.

World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County

Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.

April 15, 2024 - LAist

Workers putting down asphalt on road.

U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause

A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.

April 18, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Close-up of hand holding up wooden thermometer in front of blurred street

New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths

Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.

43 minutes ago - Associated Press via Portland Press Herald

View of Dallas city skyline with moderately busy freeway in foreground at twilight.

AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth

Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.

1 hour ago - Dallas Morning News

View from back of BART Police SUV driving down street in San Francisco, California.

Podcast: Addressing the Root Causes of Transit Violence

Deploying transit police is a short-term fix. How can transit agencies build sustainable safety efforts?

2 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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.