Well-planned suburban parks are being planned and supported -- discretely -- by a former strip-mall designer.
"Fitz-Faulkner and several other community organizers began drumming up support. For the fantasy fulfillment, though, she turned to Robert Leathers, an architect and former strip-mall designer who is, arguably, the nation's leading playground illusionist. His 25-member firm, Leathers & Associates, of Ithaca, N.Y., has created more than 1,600 playgrounds that are considered the Lincoln Navigators of the swing-set-and-monkey-bar crowd. Some sprawl for acres and include structures like 80-foot dragons and three-story castles."
Thanks to Design Architecture
FULL STORY: Just Come, and They Will Build It

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

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA
The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

A Case for Universal Rental Assistance
A pair of researchers argues that expanding rental assistance programs for low-income households is the most effective way to alleviate the housing crisis.

Office Conversions Have Increased Every Year This Decade
Since the pandemic, office vacancy rates remain high, leading many cities to adjust zoning codes to accommodate adaptive reuse.

Index Measures Impact of Heat on Pedestrian Activity
When heat and humidity are high, people are more likely to opt for cars when possible.
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