The winners of a competition to rethink the streetscape along 5 blocks of Syracuse's Near Westside hope to "get people out on their feet" and improve public health in the historically low-income neighborhood.
"Five blocks on Syracuse’s Near Westside neighborhood is undergoing a public space makeover to help rebrand and promote activity in the historically low-income area," reports Branden Klayko. "On April 15, Boston-based Stoss Landscape Urbanism, working with Höweler + Yoon Architecture, was named winner of the Movement on Main: Designing the Healthy Main Street competition for their playful approach to promoting an active public realm."
"Stoss’ concept—called 'Light Play!'—uses readily available and inexpensive off-the-shelf products to create a playful streetscape designed around a series of outdoor rooms and 'activity mounds,'” explains Klayko.
“The challenge is, can you deliver a cost-effective streetscape to act as a catalyst for improving the sociology of an area, to get people out on their feet?” said Richard Weller, jury chair, who selected the project for its innovative design and pragmatic approach to utilizing a limited $1.5 million budget.
FULL STORY: HEALTHY STREET

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

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)