A study prepared for the McKnight Foundation’s Food for Thought series has searched far and wide for lessons for keeping Minneapolis-St. Paul a prosperous and livable place.
Over two articles for MinnPost, Jay Walljasper identifies 27 ideas for improving education, attracting young talent, encouraging diversity, boosting planning and design, and addressing a host of other issues that could benefit Minneapolis-St. Paul, or any other metro area. Each idea has been inspired by specific examples from other locales.
"I present the following ideas not as a detailed road map to a brighter future," writes Walljasper in the introduction to "27 Bright Ideas We Should Steal from the Rest of the World" [PDF], "but as a way to stimulate our own creativity to tackle problems and seize opportunities that lie ahead. In a world becoming ever more global in its outlook and operations, it’s crucial to find inspiration and borrow ideas from everywhere."
FULL STORY: How to keep Minneapolis-St. Paul prosperous

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

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.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie