Cleveland, Ohio has pursued an aggressive policy of greening it vacant and underused land. A program called Garden Boyz employs local youth to tend the gardens, keeping the landscape vital and keeping the kids out of gangs.
The Garden Boyz program is supported by a grant from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
"While the vast majority of the city's $54 million in NSP money will be used to demolish blighted and foreclosed homes, the city is also investing in 58 pilot projects that move vacant land strategies beyond temporary fences and lawns," writes Marc Lefkowitz.
Lefkowitz says that uses for vacant land is "currently the hottest topic in urban planning."
FULL STORY: DC Urbanexus Magazine Cleveland’s Comeback
Downtown Cleveland Gets First Ever Protected Bike Lanes
The $200,000 “quick build” lanes are the first of 50 planned miles over five years.
Cleveland To Build First Protected Downtown Bike Lane
The city is taking steps to build out a more comprehensive bike lane network to connect downtown destinations.
Defunct Streetcar Bridge Could Become Cleveland’s ‘Low Line’
The city will develop a plan to transform an unused streetcar deck on the Veterans Memorial Bridge into a connector for bikes and pedestrians as well as a welcoming public space.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
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San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip
Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.
San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.
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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JM Goldson LLC
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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